Sunday, January 18th, 2015
Erlebnis – Experience
Bereit für ein einzigartiges Erlebnis an das man sich lange erinnert?
Ready for an experience that you will think of for long time?
Friday, December 26th, 2014
Why Photographers Have Nothing To Eat
This is because our freezer and fridge is full of rare film, no space for food 
Happy Holidays!!!!
Monday, December 22nd, 2014
Fröhliche Weihnachten – Merry Christmas
Ich wünsche Euch allen ruhige und erholsame Feiertage.
Sunday, November 30th, 2014
Fotos, Grafiken und der Machatschek
Scroll down for English version:
Heute hole ich mal etwas länger aus, eigentlich wollte ich „nur“ meine letzten Fotos veröffentlichen.
Manchmal stehe ich früh auf um etwas für meinen Körper zu tun, heute war so ein Tag. Wie ich nach getaner „Arbeit“ noch gemütlich am Radlfahren war um etwas runter zu kommen, sah ich mal wieder auf die großen Bildschirme im Fitnesscenter. Dort erblickte ich ein Fotoshooting, ein Pärchen im knappen Outfit posierten für die Fotografin. Diese machte viele Fotos und sah sich dank digitaler Technik diese natürlich sofort auf der Kamera an. Die Models warteten einstweilen, Assistenten liefen aufgeregt herum. Es wurde diskutiert, ein wenig an der Pose geändert und dann ging das Spiel wieder von vorne los. Ich kenne das natürlich auch von früheren Shootings. Da ich jetzt schon eine Zeit lang wieder vermehrt analog fotografiere, habe ich mir dabei folgendes gedacht:
Wie würde der Fotograf arbeiten wenn er pro Pose maximal zwei Fotos machen darf und diese aber nicht sofort sieht (Analog)
Wahrscheinlich müsste man sich viel mehr konzentrieren und mehr vorbereiten. Die Idee schon fertig im Kopf haben und trotzdem Kompromisse eingehen. Die Models/Kunden müssten mit Sicherheit auch geduldiger sein.
Aber warum um Gottes Willen sollen wir so etwas machen? Das ist doch ein Rückschritt, man verliert so viel Zeit (Die sich heute „eh“ nur mehr sehr wenig Menschen nehmen)
Und dann noch Analog, dann muss man ja das Negativ (Nach dem Entwickeln) wieder extra einscannen um es im Photoshop bearbeiten zu können.
Die Kunden warten länger auf die Fotos und auch im Studio (oder auch draußen) müssen sie geduldiger sein, da der Fotograf zuerst alles einrichten muss.
Meine Gedanken dazu:
In der Zeit in der wir leben, wird alles Zeitoptimiert. Angeblich geht alles schneller und einfacher. Wenn das wirklich so ist, warum haben (oder nehmen uns) wir dann keine Zeit mehr? Warum sind viele Menschen so gestresst? Wenn wirklich alles einfacher und zeitoptimiert ablaufen würde, dann hätten wir doch auch mehr Zeit! Wenn man sich wieder Zeit nimmt um ein Foto zu machen (oder machen zu lassen), wird dieser Moment wieder zu einer schönen Erinnerung, zu einem richtig schönen Ereignis, an das man sich gerne erinnert.
Als Fotograf, kann man sogar Zeit sparen, man muss nicht hunderte Fotos durchsehen und entschieden welche man nimmt oder auch nicht. Man bringt (oder schickt) die Fotos ins Labor und holt sie wieder. Fertig!
Viele Portraits wurden so perfektioniert (entfremdet), dass ich vor solchen Gesichtern Angst hätte, würden sie mir auf der Straße entgegen kommen. So viel perfekte helle makellose Haut, große leuchtente Augen und überschlanke Körper erinnern mich manchmal an außerirdische Geschöpfe.
Ich kenne eine Geschichte wo die Mutter ihre Tochter nicht erkannt hat, als sie das Foto (Die Grafik) in einer Zeitung gesehen hat.
Natürlich stehen auch bei analogen Fotos genügend Mittel zu Verfügung um sie zu verbessern. Mein Labor macht das noch direkt am Foto mit einem Pinsel (Wenn wirklich notwendig). Kaum vorzustellen, aber immer noch möglich.
Deshalb will ich jetzt gerne eine neue Fotoherausforderung über Facebook starten. Und zwar fordere ich Fotografen auf Fotos zu veröffentlichen, die direkt aus der Kamera kommen.
Kein „Postprocessing“, keine Farbkorrektor, keine schwarz weiß Konvertierung, einfach direkter Export vom raw oder ein Scan vom Film. Ich würde mich auch freuen, wenn Ihr ganz kurz darauf eingeht, wie das Foto entstanden ist.
Hier gleich mein erstes Foto:
Franz Joseph Machatschek, ein wundervoller Mensch, der das Schreiben und Singen in seiner Liederatur vereint. Zu finden unter http://www.dermachatschek.at/ (Vorsicht Suchtgefahr)
Das Foto ist am Naschmarkt mit der Hilfe von zwei guten Freunden (Danke an Dani und Fritz), einer Linhof Technika Großformatkamera und viel Zeit (bei kalten Temperaturen) entstanden. Es gab auch einige interessante Reaktionen
(mehr hier vom Making of : http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2014/11/large-format-photography-and-street-portraits/ vorerst nur in Englisch)
Titel: Der Machatschek, wird er gleich lachen oder wird er grantig…ma was hoit anfoch ned.
Be sure to also visit my project page: http://www.street-portraits.eu/
English version:
Today I gonna reach back, actually I “just” wanted to release my latest photos
Sometimes I get up early to do some workout, today was a day like that. After I finished everything, I found myself on an ergometer to cool down, watching the big screens in the gym. There I saw a photos shooting with a couple in a sexy outfit. They were posing for the photographer, she shot a lot of pictures and reviewed them on the digital camera. In between the models were waiting and the assistant were running around. After a while they started a discussion, they moved the models a bit and started from the beginning. I know that from earlier shootings I did, but because I’m using film now for a while again, I got some thoughts in my mind:
How would a photographer work if he only got two shots per pose, shooting on film without being able to review the photo?
Probably you have to be much more concentrated and the preparation would be done also more carefully. You got the idea in your head and would still accept a compromise. The models/customer also must be much more patient.
So why in hell you wanna do something like that? Doing a step backwards, you gotta loose time (Time nobody want to take today) and then there is the analog thing, you have to develop the film and scan it to be able to retouch it in Photoshop. Customers have to be more patient waiting for the photo and also in the studio, because of the photographer setting up the shot.
Here are my thoughts:
Today everything is optimized to save time, everything is easier and faster (allegedly). If life is really like that, why nobody has time (or takes time)? Why are lots of people in continuous stress? If it would be really like that, we all would have more time.
If you start to take time again for taking photos (or be taken of), you will realize, that this moment turns into a beautiful memory and an event you gonna remember.
As being a photographer, you will save time, because there is no sorting of more than hundreds of photos, you don’t have to choose which one you gonna delete and which not. You just bring (send) the film to the lab and pick it up again.
I’ve seen lots of portraits being perfected (alienated), I would be scared from faces like that if I meet them on my way home. Lots of perfect, bright flawless skin, huge glowing eyes and super skinny body reminds me sometimes on aliens. I can tell you a story about a mother who did not recognize the picture (graphic) of her daughter in the newspaper because of that.
Of course there are enough tools to modify an analog photograph too. My lab uses a real brush for example sometimes if it is really necessary. Most people cannot imagine to do so, but its possible.
Because of that I want to start a new Facebookchallenge. I will invite other photographers to post photos without post processing (Even no color temperature correction or black and white conversion, just a export from the raw file). I would be also happy if you write a short story how the photo was done.
I directly start here with my first one:
Franz Joseph Machatschek, a beautiful person who brings writing and singing together in his „Liederatur“ (singing literature – singrature), Find more here: http://www.dermachatschek.at/ (caution, its addicting)
The photograph was done at the Naschmarkt in Vienna with the help of two good friends (Thanks to Dani and Fritz), a Linhof Technka large format camera and lots of time (in cold weather). We got also some interesting reactions (read more about it in our making of: http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2014/11/large-format-photography-and-street-portraits/ )
Title: Der Machatschek, wird er gleich lachen oder wird er grantig…ma was hoit anfoch ned.
Be sure to also visit my project page: http://www.street-portraits.eu/
Saturday, November 29th, 2014
Mehmet (Large Format Street Portraits)
It was a busy day at the Naschmarkt in Vienna and I was waiting to find interesting people to take a photo of with my large format camera. Mehmet was that kind of person i was looking for. he was not sure if he wants to join my project at the first place, but then he came back after some time and changed his mind. Happy you did Mehmet!
There is also a making of from this shoot:
http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2014/11/large-format-photography-and-street-portraits/
Be sure to also visit my project page: http://www.street-portraits.eu/
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
Large Format Street Portraits
Here is the first portrait I did with the Linhof Technika, more to come from the making of session next week.
Be sure to also visit my project page: http://www.street-portraits.eu/
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
Muckendorf Wipfing Adventmarkt 2014
Scroll down for English version:
Nachdem ich heute in Wien am Naschmarkt mein Strassenportrait Projekt mit einer analogen Großformatkamera weiter geführt habe (http://www.street-portraits.eu/ und Large Format Photography and Street Portraits), bin ich in meine Heimatortschaft zurückgekehrt um dort ein paar Eindrücke vom lokalen Adventmarkt festzuhalten. Wie immer war es eine sehr tolle Vernanstaltung mit vielen Geschenksideen, gutem Essen (die Grillwerker) und Trinken. Diesmal bin ich “picken” geblieben und habe den Abend mit guten Freunden verbracht.
Hier der Link zur Fotogallerie (Aufs Bild Klicken)
English version:
After going on with my street portraits project with a large format camera (http://www.street-portraits.eu/ and Large Format Photography and Street Portraits),I went back to my hometown to capture some impressions from our local Christmas market. As always it was a great event with nice gift ideas, good food (die Grillwerker) and beverages. This time I “sticked” there for a while with good friends
Click the picture to jump to the gallery
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
Large Format Photography and Street Portraits
Large format photography is the art of static photography, it claims you maximum concentration and it takes time to take a photo. That’s what I heard from my developer. So nothing for street portraits huh?
I just love challenges and I love to slow down, take time again and breathe.
That was the reason I started with my Mamiya and medium format photography.
A good friend started to talk about large format photography, he showed me lots of landscape pictures and some great macro shots he did in the studio. And guess what I saw in my mind, I saw great portraits of people on the streets.
Let’s go back to my beginning to get a better idea what I’m talking about:
Digital:
I’m shooting mostly in manual mode, due to my experience I know the settings pretty well and for the rest I look at the exposure scale in my viewfinder. After a shot I can check the photo on the screen and do another one, if I’m not happy with the result.
Analog Medium Format 645 (My Mamiya):
Choosing the right film for the shoot, setting aperture and shutter speed. Looking through the viewfinder and half press the button to start exposure metering. In difficult lightning situation I meter different positions and calculate myself an average shutter speed (or the one that meets my main subject in the picture). Looking again thru the viewfinder and manually focus (mostly body focus), than waiting for the perfect moment and click, done.
Analog Large Format 4×5 (Linhof Technika)
Setting up the Tripod, unfolding the camera and setting up the lens, choosing the right position for the lens that meets the right framing for the portrait (distance). Calculating the exposure compensation because of the lens position. Setting up the person in front of the camera, changing the position with the tripod. Measuring the exposure with either a digital camera or with my Seconic. Applying the settings to the lens. Putting the “coat” on and start to do the exact framing (from now the person should not move anymore). After I’m happy with it, I start to use the magnifier to focus accurately.
If I’m finished with that (the person should still not move), I close the aperture (don’t forget that, otherwise the film is ruined) and put the film cassette in, remove the protecting slide (Person must still stand on the same place, it’s very important, because I shoot still wide open here) and then I’m standing beside the camera and wait for the perfect moment to press the shutter button. And at this moment I really wait, because I have only one shot.
And now imagine the difference in shooting street portraits with this three cameras.
With the digital and analog medium format camera, I just can walk around with them in my rucksack and trust my feelings to talk to the right people. If I found someone, I get the cam out of my bag and in maybe 1 minutes I’m done.
I guess you can imagine, that this is different with the large format camera, even if I found somebody, I have to prepare them that they have to have patience. And if I really ask somebody to take their picture, I really want to have one of them. If you have seen my portraits already, you see that I always look for characters and for special people that are different. Now imagine what is in my mind if I found such a person. I really want to have their picture. As you read above, with the large format, I have to do a lot of preparation and get only one shot. Maybe you can now imagine how exciting this is for me. And then there is the waiting for the development.
I only did two sessions with the Linhof right now. So is it tougher to get street portraits with it?
Yes and no:
A lot of people were looking at me with my camera on the tripod, lots of them started to talk with me. Some asked me if they are allowed to take my picture. Others were joking and so on. One of them told me, that he worked a lot with the same camera, but this are mostly not the people I want to take a portrait of. Today I was lucky, I asked two and one said yes the other said no. Funny thing: When I was shooting the guy who said yes, the other one came back to me and changed his mind. I told him, he has to wait now, because I’m shooting the other person. He was fine with it and sat down to wait. As you can see at one of the photos, I was shooting on a super busy place, but believe me, when I was focused on the picture, I did not see any of them
Assistance:
I was lucky today, that two good friends helped me with my project (Thanks to Dani and Fritz). Holding the reflector, handing me over some stuff, sealing the film, watching my stuff and document the names and the film settings for the developer (I pushed and pulled the film)
Conclusion:
I arrived, this is the right thing for me. Going back to “real” photography, slowing down and finding people who are willing to do so too.This slowing down process gives the subject and me a totally new chance to capture a naturally photograph (because there is now way he is standing there and do a fake smile for that long). People are getting relaxed and interested watching me doing the preparation. Definitely the camera type can change the peoples expression.
I also like the thing, that I’m standing beside the camera when pressing the shutter button. It’s like I can watch myself taking the picture.
You gotta carry a lot of heavy stuff with you (You better work out in your free time) and every shot is very expensive.
I just can say, for me it’s totally worth it
I traveled with my Mamiya around the world to shoot street portraits, very difficult sometimes to get the right film and get it developed properly in every country, not sure if I ever will be able to do that with the Linhof…
Check the gallery for the making of photos and check my blog next week for the results. And if you want to see my work, visit www.street-portraits.eu
(Thanks to Franz and Dani for doing a great making of)
Thursday, November 20th, 2014
Alias the self made Indian (Street Portraits)
Alias is watching people at “the Ave” (university avenue in Seattle) since 1971. I was sitting with him there for more than a day. All the Indian stuff he is wearing was made by himself.
The reason I shot that black and white is, that he loves b&w photos. He showed me an old photo of Sitting Bull (he is his favorite) and he told me about his favorite horse race Appaloosa.
He told me stories about when a bookstore and a bank was robbed close to his place. Also a friend got knifed here.
The post office behind him will be his castle sometimes after they close it and then they gonna bury him there…
He has a cellphone, where a friend stole the battery. Anyway he is just using the SD card from the phone for his mp3 player When I was sitting there, I plugged in my iPhone to his speakers and we listened to London Grammar.
He told me stories about when he was young and tired LSD once: “after sleeping for 20 hours, I still saw crocodiles on the sky, fishes on the ground and people looked like hobbits to me, today nobody could handle that in their heads”
One sentence he told me I will never forget:”Everything comes and is in yourself . Also god”
There were some guys on the street playing magic (I took a photo series of them too), the girl there has a dog with only three legs, he calls him tripod
A woman passed by, he knew her and we started talking. She knows Yoko Ono and then we talked a bit about this topic.
Also Eva joint us there for a while, they know each other pretty well. And Alias knew what to say to make fun of her.
I went with her in a store to get cigarettes and a coke, even I had the feeling they know each other pretty well, there was not .much trust…..
Looks like people like Alias and Eva are getting free food from the Hare Krishna people and the end of University Ave
Sitting there for a long time with these guys, I saw a lot of stranger passing by. One of them looked at him and said “Yea!”. Alias was looking at me and started to smile.
I think the truth of life is different to everybody of us, I just know Alias taught me lot and the time sitting with him there were one of the most pleasant time of my life.
I’m sure he is sitting still there right now and I’m gonna find a way to send him his own black and white image.
Check more photos here: www.street-portraits.eu/
Wednesday, August 27th, 2014
Eingeladen beim Meister
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Gestern waren wir bei der Familie eines Grillwerkers eingeladen (http://www.die-grillwerker.at/). Dort wurden wir mit gegrillte Feigen, hausgemachter Sauce und Salat zum Start verköstigt. Das Hauptgericht war ein Hühner-Marillenspieß mit einer Beeren Ingwersauce und dazu gab es gegrillte Zuchini. Ich habe eine kleine Fotoreportage zur Entstehung gemacht, aber wie gut das ganze wirklich geschmeckt, kann ich hier nicht mit Worten Ausdrücken. Vielen Dank nochmal an die Familie Vacha
English Version
Yesterday we were invited to a Grillwerkers family (http://www.die-grillwerker.at/). We got lots of good food there and I did a photo reportage about making this delicious meal. I just can say, that there are now words to describe how good it was