Wenke Seemann at FENSTER61

Wenke Seemann at FENSTER61

Unquiet slumbers for Wenke Seemann’s sleepers at FENSTER61… While Torstraße in Berlin Mitte is a quite noisy street anyway, the construction work right next to the window is still getting on our nerves. But inside the window we have the finest contrast to that – an installation of beautiful black and white photographs of people sleeping in their own private bed. Check out the series called “Mein kleiner Wecker tickt dazu/My little alarm clock is ticking to it” here. By the way – real insiders may spot two photographers amoung the people on the photographs who have showed their work at FENSTER61 in the past…

New Website: FENSTER61

The relaunch of FENSTER61’s website is online. Almost 70 exhibitions are in the archive by now, all about Berlin. It seems it became a real fine survey of different photographic views on the city. The new FENSTER61 blog wants to keep you update about acitivities of photographers who showed their work at FENSTER61. Feel free to add it to your blogrolls.

5 favourite DVDs about photography

The Genius of Photography

A BBC documentary about the history of photography and its genres like reportage, street photography, portraiture and finally its invasion to the art world. Six episodes, each about one hour. I think there’s no better conclusion of the subject matter with a more prominent list of protagonists so far. Subtitles in English only. Produced in 2007.The whole work is online on youtube, the DVD is available at British amazon and elsewhere.

Zeitgenössische Fotografie in Amerika

Michael Engler’s documentary was originally produced for German television in 1982. Features conversations with photographers like Garry Winogrand, Lisette Model, Robert Frank, Stephen Shore, Duane Michals, Joel Meyerowitz and more. 52 min. German only, no subtitles. Available directly from the author.

Contacts

A series from TV station arte, originally initiated by William Klein. Photographers talking about their contact sheets. At least some of the photographers talking about their contact sheets. The more popular and the more „arty“ they get the less they show contacts but talk about their work in general. Highlights (in my opinion) are Josef Koudelka, Elliott Erwitt, William Klein, Raymond Depardon which are all on the first DVD of the 3 DVD pack. Subtitles in English and French (on my copy at least – there should be an „international“ version out by now and the three DVDs are available separately in some countries).

Radfahrer

An absolutely outstanding documentary about German photographer Harald Hauswald by filmmaker Marc Thümmler that shows his photographs from the former GdR in the 80s along with readings of Stasi transcripts about him. And – that’s it. Nothing but still photographs and those off-text-readings of the Secret Service reports of the GdR. Works perfect. Disturbing and funny at the same time. The DVD also contains half an hour interview footage with Hauswald. Running time of both, film and interview is about one hour. The DVD ist available for € 7 only at the Bundesamt für Politische Bildung. Subtitles in English, Spanish, French and German.

Somewhere to disappear

Still not released as a DVD but I saw the movie at the cinema. A stunning roadtrip with Alec Soth producing his Broken Manual poject. I’m not shure what impresses me more – the photographer or his protagonists. Website of the film is here.

Please free to add your recommendations below.

Pictures of an exhibition

Seconds2Real launched an album of pictures from the Fascination Street vernissage and the first 2 days over on facebook.

The opening of Seconds2Real’s first group show last friday was a stunning and funny night with lots of good conversations + very different people. I was happy to see a lot of old friends as well as a lot of people whom I didn’t know but who knew me. The exhibiton is open until October 30th.