Imago 1:1 – truly large format selfportraits

This morning, while going through the German Freelens Magazin29, I found an article about an intriguing large format camera. While I usually do not see myself talking about hardware, I will make an exeption for the Imago 1:1, a walk-in camera (begehbare Kamera in German) that makes 1:1 black and white single photographs (no negative) in the amazing size of 60×200cm (approximately 2×6,6 ft) of whomever or whatever is inside and presses the shutter. Large format selfportraits indeed.

The camera was developed and constructed in Munich, Germany, in the early 70s by two friends: Werner Kraus, a physicist and Erhard Hoeszle, a goldsmith. Imago 1:1 is 7m long, 4m high and 3,5m deep (approx. 23×13x11,5 ft) and does look more like a selfpreservation-module from a MadMax movie, or like something out of a submarine, than a camera.

If I understood it correctly, Imago1:1 was proudly presented in the 3rd world fair/exhibition of Photography in Nuernberg, Germany, in 1974, and now, after gathering dust for about 30 years Werner Kraus’s daughter, Susanna, reactivated the camera together with Annegret Kohlmayer and since then it filled a couple of exhibitions by itself as well as with the huge photographs.

Since October 1st 2009 Imago1:1 has it’s own studio in Berlin and apparently, by prior appointment, you can make your own 1:1 self portrait. Anybody in need of an original present?! I admit that it is tempting me and that I might consider going there during my next visit to Berlin.

Unfortunately the Imago 1:1 website is totally in German, as are the interviews below. But you will find contact data and email addresses under “Presse/Kontakt” on the website. As it is a flash website, I cannot directly link to it here.

For those of you who understand German, see the interview with Susanna Kraus on YouTube and another audio interview with Susanna Kraus (German language – no further specification).

The images you see here are from the official website – unfortunately no thorough description comes with them. The image above seems to be from the 70s, and the image below appears to be from the new studio in Berlin. You can see photographs hanging on the walls and one of Susanna and her father leaning against the camera. For further examples please try to click through the site.
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