Reto Camenisch
Analog black-and-white photography has always been at the center of the work of Reto Camenisch (*1958 in Thun): Both in his years as a photojournalist for various media (1982-2005: NZZ, Das Magazin, Facts, Annabelle, FAZ, Stern, Spiegel, and others) and as an artistic photographer with numerous exhibitions in Switzerland and abroad (since 1983). Camenisch finds his motifs mostly on hikes in remote areas, for example in the Entlebuch or in the high mountains of Switzerland («Julierpass», 2000; «Gastlosen», 2002; «Eiger», 2004; «Lohner», 2006 et al. ) and also repeatedly on trips abroad, resulting in several photography books: «Bluesland», 1997 (Mississippi Delta, 1992-1997), «Time», 2006 (Lanzarote, Auvergne, Brittany, Andalusia, New Zealand; in addition to pictures from the Engadin, the Bernese Oberland, etc.) and «Mountains. Pilgrims. Places», 2011 (Northern India, Nepal and Tibet, 2009).
Reto Camenisch’s photographs get their distinctive expression from his conscious waiting for the right moment, his emotion and becoming one with a place, a situation and its circumstances. This internalization is reflected in the pictures, which have something deeply human and timelessly natural about them. In the black-and-white photographs, the dark tonality of the landscapes, the mountain worlds and plant motifs («Botanical Garden», 2012) with their dusky mood and the partially shining light is particularly adequate. They are also nuanced by the analog shooting technique and the hand prints with partially visible edges of the photo negative.
Out of necessity, lately Camenisch has moved on to digital color photography, whereby the colors also take on an existential significance. Recent photographs, taken mainly in India, were finally included in his next publication, «Das vierte Drittel und die Poesie der Angst» (2022).
Reto Camenisch also works as a freelance lecturer in photography and has led the course in «Editorial Photography» at the Swiss School of Journalism MAZ in Lucerne since 2011.
