Behind the name Bilderbuben (literal translation: picture boys) stand the Konstanzer photographer Ben Wiesenfarth and the graphic designer Guido Herrmann from Lichtenstein. Both combine the enthusiasm for every kind of ‘automobile treasures’ and the urge to play with photography and illustration.
Since the beginning of 2016 the Bilderbuben have been experimenting with illustrated photographs: the images are shot by Ben Wiesenfarth and “painted” by Guido Herrmann on a digital drawing board. This creates images with subtle, fluid transitions between the real picture and the painting, which are characterized by their own unmistakable style. It cannot be attributed either to classical photography or to a conventional painting style. The Bilderbuben themselves call it “painted photography”.
The digitally enhanced images are printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag ® Ultra Smooth 305 gsm at the Fine Art Print Studios (currently Möhrle Photograph, Friedrichshafen and ProLab, Stuttgart) and mounted on 3 mm aluminum dibond plates. The extremely high-resolution images allow a reproduction up to 300 cm wide and a production-related height of approx. 150 cm.
The Bilderbuben have experimented with a wide variety of fine art papers, but the Photo Rag ® Ultra Smooth 305 gsm is the best paper for them. The matte surface underlines the graphic character of the images and reproduces the finest shading and tonal gradations perfectly without color distortions. The pictures are basically processed without glazing, to present them unadulterated with the haptic of the paper and the highly detailed drawing.
Together with the museum “Autobau” in Romanshorn (CH), the Bilderbuben have created a variety of car images. The fine art prints are presented in a permanent exhibition in varied sizes from 100 to 300 cm.
A similar cooperation exists with Emil Frey Classics, Safenwil (CH)
Currently there is a 250cm image exhibited. In addition, on behalf of Emil Frey Classics, the Bilderbuben design individual images from vintage cars, which are handed over as framed fine art prints to the buyers, as an exclusive gift when they are purchasing the vehicle.
