Prize includes matte and frame (see end of description). “The warden” was awarded with a “Honourable Mention”
in the New York Photography Awards 2023, Tokyo International Foto Awards 2023, Budapest International Foto Awards 2023, ND Awards 2023 and European Photography Awards 2023.
In my street photography people are interchangeable
anonymous actors, hence you typically don't recognize their faces. Animals are
part of the city life and their irregular activity contrasts with the regular
forms of streets and buildings, whose leading lines ideally aim for a corner of
the picture.
The picture "The warden" is part of my
recent book "Forms and Figures of New York City" in which I captured
New York City following my photographic paradigm “Reduce to the Max”,
represented by the principles simplicity, black and white, square format and
authenticity.
Simplicity was implemented by leaving away the
unnecessary and further emphasized by the use of a single lens. The choice of
Black and White accentuated individual objects and shapes and the omission of
colors provided some order in the otherwise overwhelming chaos of the urban
environment. The uniform square image format assured a balanced arrangement of
the elements in the individual pictures and provided calm throughout the whole
series. The images have been post-processed. Following the principle of
authenticity, there is however nothing on the pictures that was not already on
the negative.
In the 19th century, America was a popular
destination for emigrants, who hoped for a better existence in the “New World”.
On Ellis Island off New York, immigrants had to register and undergo a sanitary
examination. In the immigration hall one can still sense the mixture of moods, which fluctuated between expectation and anxiety. “The warden” shows a guard
waiting for tourists whose uniform would also have suited the officials well,
who had to ensure peace and order 200 years ago.
The photograph is limited to five prints plus two
APs in 28x28 cm. It is presented in a 100x100 cm white matte in a black aluminium
frame with Artglass AR 99 Protect (reflexion-free and shatter-resistant). The
matte is cut in a way that the signature on the front is visible. They are
signed and numbered on the front and stamped and signed on the back. They are
printed with Epson Ultra Chrome pro 10 ink (WIR display permanence rating >
400 years) on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta paper (ISO 9706). The certificate of
authentication provides further information (context, picture number, awards
won etc.).
