PEOPLE SCAN, Jakob

PEOPLE_SCANS or THE DECISIVE MINUTE
The project is to be regarded as a counterpoint to the high speeds found in
digital photography. Not, however, as a sign of personal rejection of the
new media – the idea behind this project is more a form of concept-based
personal slowdown, concentrated work, personal awareness of the environment.

The technical part is handled by a high resolution digital camera which moves
along a specially designed rail system and can be used to photograph and
scan individual surfaces/objects/subjects. The individual images are then put
together to make life-size pictures. A finished picture consists of up to 15
individual images – giving you a high-quality finish.
The with regard to the genre of portrait photography and the slowing down of
what is normally a very spontaneous act in portrait photography represent
an additional aspect of communication between photographer and model.
The photographer takes on an exceptionally domineering role in this „game“.
He literally rises above the model. The model has no possibility of
movement. He or she is at the mercy of the photographer for one to two
minutes. The result is a form of victim/assailant situation (as is very often the case in photography).