Rolf Sachsse Book order (chronological)

Anna Atkins, a pioneering English artist, embraced modernity by utilizing the newly invented cyanotype technique for her plant collections. In 1843, she produced the first photographic book in history, featuring stunning and original images that often resemble contemporary art. Her innovative approach not only showcased her botanical studies but also marked a significant moment in the evolution of photography and art.

In 1989, Richard Reisen spent several months as a security guard in an asylum seekers' inn at 5 Schiessstrasse in Düsseldorf-Heerdt, bringing his camera along. His photographs exemplify 'participatory observation,' capturing people, situations, and objects with a fresh perspective. Over thirty years later, these images resonate with themes of flight and migration. They include handwritten notes in a visitor's book, vintage sash windows, and a cigarette machine, reflecting a culture where smoking was prevalent. Timeless motifs emerge, such as portraits beside cars, individuals proudly on their bicycles, cooking on a cramped hob, and the long waits next to a running washing machine. The highway in front of the terrace remains, along with the views from the rooms and balcony. A recurring theme is the passage of time, depicted through activities like haircuts, smoking, phone calls, and simply hanging out. These photographs serve as a poignant reminder of the human experience within the context of migration, capturing moments that are both distant and immediate, revealing the everyday lives of those seeking refuge.

The Cologne team Geissler & Sann here invents an electronic game and converts it into photographs and video sequences. The action takes place at the Rosenberg Fort in Kronach, and it involves dangerous enemies, enigmatic figures, a fairy, magicians and eternal happiness.

Die Essays des Bandes sind nach vier historischen Epochen gegliedert und beleuchten verschiedene Genres der Fotografie. Sie analysieren die Bedeutung und den Wandel des fotografischen Bildes in der Alltagskultur, von privaten Fotoalben bis hin zu Propaganda. Historiker und Fotoexperten kommen zu Wort, die Analyse endet 1970.