About this project
$3,235
55
About My Project...
This photo exhibit will be the finishing piece in the most complex photographic project I've done to date. I'm excited to have the opportunity to show selected pieces from my new photo book 45 SECONDS at Photobooth in San Francisco between December 8, 2012 and January 6, 2013.
The exhibit will showcase 14 gallery prints of curated images from the 45 SECONDS book, as well as a selection of the original Polaroids from the series. I also plan to edit and publish a small photo book/exhibition catalogue for this show. This 8X8" book will be available on opening night and during the show for purchase. It also will be one of the unique rewards for backing my project!
Your Contributions Will Go Towards...
- Fine Art Prints: includes items such as Baryta photo paper, pigment inks and rental fees
- Framing & Mounting: some of the images will be sequenced, and combined in one large, long print, which will make custom frames necessary.
- Promotional Materials such as postcards
- Design and Publishing of the exhibition catalogue
My Goal for this Kickstarter Project...
My minimum goal is $2500 to be able to create all exhibition and promotional material. Why my minimum goal? It's simply the way Kickstarter works, I HAVE to reach my goal in order to receive what has been pledged. If I'm $1 short, I won't receive any of your contributions.
The Rewards...
The Exhibition Postcards
The 5X7" Edition Prints ( Edition of 20 prints / image )
The iBOOK for iPHONE & iPAD
The 8X10" Edition Prints ( Edition of 10 prints / image )
45 SECONDS - The Book ( 12X12", 96 pages, hardcover )
The 11X17" Sequence Edition Print ( Edition of 20 prints )
The 12X16" Edition Prints ( Edition of 5 prints / image )
45 SECONDS (the story behind the project)
45 seconds...the time it takes a 664 Polaroid to develop at room temperature. These 45 seconds command you to relax and be present. There is no reason to rush and no possibility of expediting the process of shooting the desired photographs. The “common sense” of shooting portraiture in our shiny and bold digital age of photography is being de-programmed. The usual vast volume of produced images is purposely diminished, but the promised delivery of an instant proof, an image to observe, still remains. This project is the result of my venture into Polaroid portraiture and my vision of photographic aesthetics in capturing people.
The initial foundation for the Polatrait Series and this project was set in 2005 when I came across a 1937-built Zeiss Icon Nettar Camera at a flea market in my hometown of Bonn, Germany. After this (unknowingly significant) purchase and the first wave of photographic excitement – expressed in exposing the incredible amount of 3 rolls of 120 film - the camera was set aside and forgotten. Life went on and I went strictly digital for the majority of my photography and forgot about this camera.
At some point I bought a Polaroid back for my Hasselblad and started to use Instant pack film, made by FUJI. It was the beginning of what you will witness in the essence of this book. This acquaintance finally initiated the creation of the Pola-Zeiss Camera I used throughout this entire project to photograph my models. What transpired next? After using the Hasselblad with the Polaroid proofing-back for a bit, I finally had the idea to merge my old Zeiss-Ikon with this particular film back. The result was the birth of a unique instant camera, paired with original old Polaroid 664 b&w pack-film – the perfect tool to create soulful imagery. The confluence of the flaws and rather soft qualities of the over 75-year-old Ettar-Anastigmat lens / Zeiss-Ikon Telmar shutter birthed a unique portraiture style that captured both the beauty and imperfections of each subject in an organic way. The unpredictable textures and distribution of chemicals in between the Polaroid sheets created photographs that were (and still are) like the purest fix for any addict to this medium.
I decided to use this unique creation exclusively for portraiture. Due to technical facts and fixed parameters - such as an extremely narrow focusing range due to the set back focusing plane and a unadjusted prism viewfinder - I was working completely outside common expectations. I was able to interact with each participating model on a new, different and more intimate level. The set would primarily be an authentic reflection of their personality through which they could express themselves organically. The use of a simple white background in combination with b&w film was chosen to highlight the true, unadulterated form of each individual.
Risks and challenges
The biggest challenge for my project is the short amount of time to accomplish all the tasks that are crucial to deliver a stunning presentation of the images at the exhibition.
In a little less than one month I have to print and frame the selected photographs for the photo show and he catalogue has to be finalized and printed.
At the same time I have to raise the funds for my project and keep all of you on top of hat´s happening with my project....
It´s gonna be a busy time! The good thing is I already started all the necessary preparations in order to deliver a great and memorable presentation of unique instant portraits!
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Funding period
- (10 days)