Art photography at the BILSTER BERG – Student photography project right next to the race track
Since the BILSTER BERG is increasingly becoming a photogenic centre of attraction for photo and film productions, most of which have an affinity for racetracks, students from the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts likewise discovered the racetrack as a motif for an artistically challenging photo project. For a change, the young photographers focused neither on powerful sports cars nor on exciting customer events. The focus of their photographic work was rather on the staging of the racetrack itself, as a space of retreat and experience. “Our work deals with the imitation of reality. In other words, with objects and spaces that serve people as isolated illusory worlds and in which their actions remain inconsequential,” is how Daniel Niedermeier and Jan Staiger describe their project – both are studying photojournalism and documentary photography in the fourth semester at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hanover. Their long-term photograph of the racetrack at BILSTER BERG is part of an 8 picture series on which the two talented photographers have been working together for about half a year. The range of motifs of isolated parallel worlds runs through many different areas of society. “The aim is to photographically address as broad a spectrum as possible. The racetrack at BILSTER BERG is so interesting for the project because it too represents an isolated system. Because it is not an ordinary road that connects one place with another, but a self-contained system in which limits can be pushed and abilities tested,” explains Daniel Niedermeier. “Communication with the management of the BILSTER BERG was totally uncomplicated and they were very supportive towards us. After we had found a suitable date when the race track was not occupied, we were able to move freely and without time pressure on the extensive area. This suited our project very well, because we used a large part of this time alone to filter out the right motif for our thematic concept. This turned out rather difficult, because photographically, the very tidy and clear aesthetics of the BILSTER BERG seduce you all too easily,” says Daniel Niedermeier. And Jan Staiger adds: “The resulting photo fits our project perfectly. We are extremely grateful to the BILSTER BERG team for all their support.”
The final long exposure photograph at the BILSTER BERG by Daniel Niedermeier and Jan Staiger.
(Editor: ramp.space Photots: Daniel Niedermeier and Jan Staiger)
