Saturday 30 October 2010

Unit 212 Photographic Influences and styles 02

Reinfried Marass – Austrian, professional photographer, born 1960 in Vienna. I started photography at age of 18 after my graduation as mechanical engineer.
My work was internationally acknowledged and awarded at some of the world’s most prestigious photographic contests. My photographs have been published in numerous international magazines and books - primarily covers, full pages, double-spreads or centerfolds.
The positioning and relationship of points, lines and areas in my photographs is influenced by and dictated by the famous German ‘Bauhaus’ that combined crafts and the fine arts and operated from 1919 to 1933. These rules can be found in many of my photographs. In addition I introduced ‘Fibonacci Harmonic Levels’ to photography.
I grew up in Neulengbach, a small Austrian town where ‘Egon Schiele’ lived, worked and finally was prisoned for his erotic paintings and drawings. This can be called my first contact with art, and elements of Schiele’s work can be found in my photographs.
I have always been in touch with classic cars and exotic cars. Automotive photography is a part of my work in many cases.
I do photography on location by using available light. I never have owned a flash or similar lighting equipment. In general I love to work with minimal equipment. Thus I can be fully concentrated on the ’sujet’.
For my personal work I’m a strictly follower of the ‘Codex’ – There exists an unwritten ‘contract’ between the photographer and the viewer. This ‘contract’ states that the photograph must reflect the truth. Digital post-processing is used in a minimalist way only, just to enhance technical quality – not to create fake shots or fake light situation. In my opinion ’sticking to this rule’ becomes even more important in the digital era of photography.
Reinfried Marass, 2005

This was taken for an client who sells classic cars, this was shot on the car lot with the car dealers wife modelling for him, this image has had great success for him a as stock photo. I think the reason for this is that it is a simple uncomplicated theme where not a lot of the model or car is shown but anyone can associate it with a prestige car and high class luxury feel to it, it evokes a timeless elegance of open top touring and the finer things in life. I think this is a simple set up with no flash or reflectors used just natural ambient. I assume he has used a polarising filter and you can see through the windscreen and see perfect reflections of the steering wheel and the models legs in her glasses. By cropping in close has given the viewer the scope to use their imagination and make their own mind up as to what is going on. the model is on the thirds, vertically and horizontally, the wiper is leading to the hands on the steering wheel and sunglasses the top of windsceen frames the image bringing you across to the mirror and back to the beginning again to start again keeping you looking at the picture,and nothing in the background to distract or attract
Another simple shot, this time in black and white which I think adds to the theme of classic and timeless elegance, parts off a car, hands, legs and classy shoes, again giving the viewer something to imagine to get involved with the image. The line of the car taking you to the legs and the door holding you in the picture. nice blurred background so as not to distract


With this shot I ask myself the question, why is she going past these beautiful cars and prefers to walk, I don't have an answer, but the image still portrays a story and the viewer must always ask it! The composition is good again the girl and the cars are on the thirds and this time the lines of the trees and curbs carrying you though the image along with the girl.

3 comments:

  1. Dear James,
    many thanks for posting some of my photographs alongside with my bio !

    And a special 'Thank You' for your time watching (and analyzing) the images in a more intensive way. It's greatly appreciated - especially in a time where people are overwhelmed with images online, and photos are 'scanned' within milliseconds.And, you nailed it.

    Many thanks to Torkel Fenre for his nice comment as well !

    Best regards from Austria,
    Reini

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  2. Wow... Thanks for the comments Reini, I never thought my thoughts of photography influences would br seen by anyone but my tutor, let alone seen by the author of the images, Wow thanks again Reini for the feedback which I think is important to us all!

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