Jan C. Schlegel, born in 1965 in the Black Forest of Germany, developed an interest in photography at the age of 14. After his training and a seminar at the Staatslehranstalt für Photographie in Munich with Walter Schels, he discovered his preference for black and white photography. Another mentor for Schlegel was the photographer Toni Schneiders, whom he assisted for two and a half years.
Since 1998, Schlegel has been regularly traveling to remote areas in Africa and Asia cut off from the western world which led him to encounters with unique individuals. Journeying to remote locales, Schlegel witnesses the erosion of traditions and the transformation of tribal life due to globalization. Motivated by a desire to capture and preserve these disappearing cultures, Schlegel's photographs authentically depict people in their natural habitats - be it at markets, village squares, or on roadsides. Using a simple grey background, Schlegel directs focus solely on the individuals, emphasizing their intrinsic and external beauty, uniqueness, and cultural value. Having visited 61 countries, Schlegel's compositions, dramatic lighting, and unconventional perspectives unveil the hidden treasures of our world, increasingly elusive yet profoundly significant. Often immersing himself for weeks within tribes, Schlegel establishes trust to capture intimate portraits. Through his series ´Essence,´ Schlegel offers a glimpse into foreign cultures, urging us to recognize and celebrate the diversity of humanity's cultural identities.
In 2017 Schlegel started his nature trilogy. Initially, he created 16 motifs titled 'Of Monster & Dragon,' followed by 'Creatures of the Seven Seas,' focusing on sea creatures. His aim was to produce visually appealing images which evoke awareness of the animals' beauty.
To capture their intricate surfaces and exotic patterns, he employed the calotype process pioneered by William Henry Fox Talbot in the 19th century. This labor-intensive method involves handcrafting each print, starting with salt and silver nitrate solutions on pure cotton paper. Despite its complexity and cost, calotype offers the broadest range of color shades, making it ideal for this series, even though it has nearly faded into obscurity.
In 2022, Schlegel presented his series "Of Aliens, Mermaids, and Medusas," capturing the ethereal beauty of jellyfish, commonly referred to as "Medusa" in marine terms, in his stunning platinum prints. A set of 12 images portrays the delicate dance of these creatures, highlighting their fragile forms and translucent grace. This mesmerizing work sheds light on the environmental threats faced by these creatures due to climate change and pollution.
Schlegel's black and white photographs are taken with large-format cameras (Ebony SV45 Ti 4x5", Linhof Master Technika 4x5", Chamonix 8x10") on traditional film. He completely avoids digital post-processing and develops his images himself. For his classic black and white shots, Schlegel hand-tones with his own mixture, which he personally developed over two years. The toning process spans several hours and always results in a completely individual outcome.
Many of his series are realized as platinum prints, a historical chemical photographic process that allows for the greatest tonal reproduction of grayscale. In this process, the photographic emulsion is applied to high-quality cotton paper with a brush.
Schlegel´s mastery of photographic printing techniques is a benchmark for excellence in the field, solidifying his status as one of the great photographers of our time.
Ira Stehmann, March 2024