The circular shape in its hub dominates Michael Schmidt’s photograph. The edges of this circle seem to be blurred.
Diagonal structures constitute the other essential formal aspect of the picture.
Reality is represented here in a very reduced way. One detects a railroad embankment, between the crossties there is the grayish lining of snow. In the background you can make out „the wall”. The dominating formal elements allow the conclusion that a railroad bridge is being shown here. Weather seems dreary; a lighter spot in the sky gives us the idea of the light source.
Michael Schmidt works here with a few optical tricks, the round shape seems to hover over the embankment, and its blurriness suggests movement, but stays detectable as a mere suggestion. In a way, Michael Schmidt explores here the illusionary quality of photography: it’s pretense to be real, spatial and on the move.
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Illustrations: 1_ Waffenruhe; 1985-87 (extract) /// 2_Untitled (from Portraits), 1991/92, Gelatin silver print, 92 x 61,2 cm (94 x 63,2 cm framed), Ed. of 6
