#horststein

'Shoot is a gesture comparable to the compulsion to action of the killer at the time of their crime, "

- Horst Stein

Austrian photographer Horst Stein held an exhibition of his project APPEARANCE in Museo di Trastevere. A series entirely of diptych format, it was interesting to see how Stein conveyed his view of photography as an issue of "control and loss of control". Each diptych displays a narrative in which the "interruption" can at times seem to us extremely random and possibly, a mistake, or even convey a melancholic moment. 

The first photo of each diptych is of an urban situation, clear and uninterrupted by any "passer-by", which is followed by the next of the exact same urban situation's "serenity" interrupted somehow. The interruption itself is oblivious to what is happening, and seems to accidentally set foot into the frame of the photo, signalling it time for Stein to capture shot. A compulsive, timeofthemoment kind of shot, though. His view of photography as comparable to an act of "killing" at a moment of time" is dramatically equivalent again to the "Decisive moment" approach. However, it deems more critical in the former theme. 

Mixed signals with which is more important, the background so perfectly chosen/set and eyecatching, or the interrupting activity of the second photograph is the main subjective view of his photographs on my part. 

- Appearance : by Horst Stein -