Page 44 - Libro 2

FIAP EVENTS FIAP EVENTS
Bearded Rose Friends

By Renate Jebe MFIAP, EFIAP/S, MPSA2
Germany

I live close to nature in the small village of Barghorst, in the
north of Germany. Photography became part of my life when
analogue photography was still state of the art. In the darkroom, I was
always fascinated by how the picture slowly appeared on the paper.
The switch to digital photography presented me with numerous
challenges and opportunities. The new possibilities offered by camera
technology and image processing have rewarded my perseverance,
for example in the creation of colour keys that I used for my portfolio.
FIAP Events Renate Jebe and experimental photography. However, portraits are the main FIAP Events
My subjects are varied: landscape, architecture, macro, studio

focus of my photography. They are my passion. For me, the special
thing about photography is the exchange of ideas in front of and
behind the camera and the resulting interaction between people. The camera is the key to getting in
touch with people on my travels around the world and capturing their individuality and facets.
I love photographing people, especially their portraits
I love PEOPLE, their faces, their hands. I love colours and contrasts. I love togetherness and yet diversity.
People, faces, hands

I have chosen black and white and hard contrasts, because nothing shows the lines that life has
written in an individual’s face more clearly. I show men of different ages with their different beards.
Colours, contrasts
The background and the clothing, both deliberately black and without structure, take a back seat to
draw the eye to the essentials; the head and the hand with the rose.
In contradiction to the strong contrasts in black and white and to the lifelines stands the delicate,
colourful blossom in its perfection and transience. Only a rose combines these strong contrasts: it
shows hardness in its thorns and softness in its petals, rounded off by its beguiling fragrance. These
characteristics can also be found in the beards: initially prickly like the thorns, a beard also develops a
certain softness.
Variety

In the headgear, in the way it is worn. The age range, the different beards. I started the collection
with my oldest childhood friend. I finished it with my longest photo friend.
Common ground
The rose as a constant connection.
The colour of the flower in harmony with the headgear.
Carrying out the recordings
Over the course of two summers, I took photos of 43 bearded men in total. I did this in an old and
refurbished horse stall, that had the necessary dimensions. The studio setup remained unchanged
over the duration of the entire project, so that the light conditions stayed consistent.
The photos were processed on the computer during winter, and I then made a final selection of 20
for submission.
The result was not predetermined. It evolved during the photo sessions. I approached the men, some
acquaintances, but also some strangers, and simply asked if they were interested in taking part in such
a photo project. Everyone was really happy to participate. No one turned me down. The whole project
brought a lot of joy to me and the men I photographed. The second photo shown on the next page
is my husband, who has always supported and encouraged me during this project and my whole life.
THANK YOU!
To see the complete set of images with which Renate Jebe gained her MFIAP, go to:
https://www.fiap.net/en/portfolios/mfiap/renate-jebe

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