PORTFOLIO: Josh von Staudach

Editor's Note:
This feature was comprised of two four-page panoramic photographs, which folded out of the magazine. Contact editor Sherrie Gossett at sgossett@atlassociety.org for a copy of the print magazine. What follows is the accompanying text for the photo spread.

This glittering, 800-ton glass and steel cupola crowns the Berlin Reichstag. From this vantage point visitors can view the workings of parliament below of take in spectacular views of the city. A mirrored core reflects sunlight down into the interior of the building. A large, electronic sun shield responds to sensors to prevent glare. Two elliptical ramps direct visitors to the top of the 40-meter dome, where there is a viewing platform. A portion of the top of the dome is open to the air. A visual display of the history of the building is located at the base of the cupola.

The orginal Reichstag was commissioned in 1884 by Kaiser Wilhelm I. It also featured a glass a steel cupola, which was later damaged during the 1933 blaze. More damage to the building occurred during World War II. Following the reunification of Germany, the building was renovated by architect Norman Foster. It now is characterized by an intriguing mix of the classical and the futuristic.

Josh was 8 years old when he first discovered cameras. From then on he carried one everywhere, taking photos wherever he went. These impressions of his world, captured precisely by lenses and mirrors and fixed by chemicals onto paper, led to a career in photography. Staudach held numerous other jobs first though, working as a graphic artist, designer, musician, and craftsman.

Staudach is self-taught in photography and prefers to pursue it without paying undue attention to fixed rules and conventions. He currently focuses on panoramic photography. Within this field, he seeks to be a pioneer: "to blast the usual limits of photography and develop something new." Yet, unlike artists who intentionally seek to create disharmony, Staudach prefers balanced proportions and harmonious colors. In addition to broader and creative perspectives, these photographs often present pristine and dense detail not perceivable by the person viewing the subject on location.