I started in photography shooting only black and white on film while stationed in Schwäbisch Hall, West Germany at Dolan Barracks, with the US Army. I enjoyed the entire process of taking the photograph and then spending hours in the dark room developing the print. My mentor back then was a German WW II photographer, Herr Ritter. I would spend a lot of time selecting the paper, cropping the picture and playing with the time under the light and developer only to have Herr Ritter walk behind me and give me his, usually one word, assessment of my work. Now every time I start to produce black and white imagery I feel Herr Ritter in the next room; about to walk in.
Today, I shoot digital, have a computer, Photoshop and the associated plug-ins. The subject of my photography has changed, I enjoy portraiture, I like to simplify the female face to the essence of femaleness; to show basic beauty. Sometimes that is a hight-key process, sometimes an ultra close-up. This image of Barbara is another, different, attempt.
I wonder what Herr Ritter would say.
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3 Comments
*spoken in a heavy-German accent*
“Verrrrry interesting”
Sorry…I couldn’t resist.
You’re forgiven. < g >
I noticed that you mentioned a gentleman named Werner Ritter, and bells went off in my mind. I was stationed at Dolan Barracks from 1953 through 1957, Service Battery, 291st field artillary. I spent many hours at the service club, being put down by mr Ritter. I do not believe I ever took a decent picture in his eyes, however, today I occasionaly take one, and I owe it to him.