Tarot-like photography

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

full deck	07 Jul 2003
I discovered this photographer, living in Prague, that is absolutely remarkable. Much of his work has an iconographic quality that reminds me much of tarot. Check him out: http://www.fotolog.net/metropa/ This guy is really happening!

baba-prague	07 Jul 2003
Oh interesting! In fact I think I have come across him on one of the expats sites here (or perhaps there is more than one photographer from SF living here?) Some of the photographs are very obviously Prague but if I've understood correctly, some of the others are Berlin? Like you say, strong atmosphere about many of them. Thanks for drawing our attention to this!

full deck	07 Jul 2003
He lives in Prague. He was traveling to Berlin and took some of the new shots. It makes one *want* to travel to Prague, that and getting to hear the Tallich Quartet again!

baba-prague	07 Jul 2003
Well - I would always encourage a visit to Prague. Come and see us if you do please. To get back on thread, I'm interested in why you feel these photos have a particular tarot feel? I don't mean this question in a terribly serious way or anything, but it is interesting to know what, in particular, makes these tarot-like to you? Is it the choice of statues or more the style of the photography?

full deck	07 Jul 2003
How he composes his shots is what reminds me of tarot. The results are very iconographic and have a monumentality to them, due to how he focuses the viewer's perspective on the subject, creating a very intense experience. Symbols have a unique, extra-ordinary function, functioning as a lens upon a greater experience. This photographer understands this very well. His subject's are pretty nice too; the angel holding the wreath, pointing up into the clouds, for example. His style of shooting (with the tricked-out pinhole camera) enhances this as well. He has killer technique!

baba-prague	08 Jul 2003
I may try to track him down at some point. It would be interesting to see what would happen if we took one or two of these photos and turned them into tarot cards. Not a full deck, but just a couple of cards to see what the result would be like. Might be really nice. I agree with you about the monumentality - of course I like the content too (some of it is familiar and it is always interesting to see a new perspective on a familiar subject - it can really open things up).

skysilver	08 Jul 2003
Very interesting photography. I see what you are talking about.

SingingTarot	08 Jul 2003
Wow! I'm in love here. What beautiful pictures! I like the tension he createsby taking the picture at an angle. They have a very dreamy quality. Love it! Thanks for pointing out the link full deck! Baba-Prague, let us know if any of these get turned into tarot cards! Alice

full deck	08 Jul 2003
I'm using two of his shots (angels) for my desktop image on the Mac and it is wonderful!

jema	09 Jul 2003
if anyone gets a chance - look up the photos of Bruno Ehrs. Also a bit tarot-ish in my opinion - and funny too!

full deck	12 Jul 2003
Yo, check him out now; he has posted his e-mail address for people who wish to commission him for work. *This* fellow would be close to ideal for commissioning a tarot deck! http://www.fotolog.net/metropa/ Click on "about metropa" for the link. He just posted a photo of a bronze globe. Very cool.

The Tarot-like photography thread was originally posted on 07 Jul 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.