Jan von HollobenJan von Holloben

CurrentCurrent

Journey to EverywhereJourney to Everywhere

Abusing depth of field to Abusing depth of field to change scalechange scale

Photography allows you to control what Photography allows you to control what and how the viewer sees. Usually when and how the viewer sees. Usually when we look at something our brain can we look at something our brain can rationalize it and we understand it.rationalize it and we understand it.

In this series of images we can identify In this series of images we can identify objects but scale is changed so objects but scale is changed so dramatically by position in space that our dramatically by position in space that our brain is trickedbrain is tricked

► ‘‘Its great to come back to a place and continue where things were left in the past’Its great to come back to a place and continue where things were left in the past’► It’s seven years ago since Jan von Holleben started to put his kids and childhood dreams into It’s seven years ago since Jan von Holleben started to put his kids and childhood dreams into

photographs. Since then trees have grown and new houses have been built in the little village in photographs. Since then trees have grown and new houses have been built in the little village in Sasbach at the Kaiserstuhl, in the South West of Germany.Sasbach at the Kaiserstuhl, in the South West of Germany.

► The kids he works with have grown too, but are still keen on playing along with him.The kids he works with have grown too, but are still keen on playing along with him.► ‘‘It’s just that demands from the kids are much higher now and that I can confront them with more It’s just that demands from the kids are much higher now and that I can confront them with more

complex ideas than in the past. We still meet in front of my mother’s house, discuss the photographic complex ideas than in the past. We still meet in front of my mother’s house, discuss the photographic ideas and collect the props we need for the images. Eventually we pack the car and drive up the ideas and collect the props we need for the images. Eventually we pack the car and drive up the village’s hill, from which we have a vista into the wide world, from the Vosges in France, to the German village’s hill, from which we have a vista into the wide world, from the Vosges in France, to the German Black Forrest and all the way to the Swiss Alps.’Black Forrest and all the way to the Swiss Alps.’

► The older kids are heavily involved with the production and proudly play ‘Art Director’ and ‘Technical The older kids are heavily involved with the production and proudly play ‘Art Director’ and ‘Technical Assistant’. In teamwork it all comes together. Foreground and background are set up. Ladders are Assistant’. In teamwork it all comes together. Foreground and background are set up. Ladders are erected and positions rehearsed. Perspectives are closely defined for everything needs to be perfect for erected and positions rehearsed. Perspectives are closely defined for everything needs to be perfect for an illusion that needs no digital postproduction.an illusion that needs no digital postproduction.

► And what’s now? ‘Well, first we do the desert with oasis, then the cowboys and last but not least the And what’s now? ‘Well, first we do the desert with oasis, then the cowboys and last but not least the pirate-ship with mermaid! All right? Great, then here we go!’pirate-ship with mermaid! All right? Great, then here we go!’