Keld Helmer-Petersen

1. Keld Helmer-Petersen By: Sativa Helmer (not related) per.5 November, 2011

2. Biography Keld Helmer-Petersen was born on August 23, 1920 in KØbenhavn, Denmark. He was studied at the Institute of Art in Chicago from 1950-1951. He also studied at the Art Academy School of Architecture. Keld had a breakthrough when he published his and others photography in 122 Farvefotografier/122 Colour Photographs. Helmer-Petersen has pictures located in Rocket Gallery (magazine),the Danish Art Foundation, the Royal Library, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Museum of Modern Art, Stiftung für die Fotografie, and many others.

3. Biography (continued) • His photos are mostly abstract because many of the photographs he adjusted the contrast to create purely black and white images. • Helmer-Petersen’s inspiration was the normal everyday working life of the American's • Abstract photos are pictures that are confusing to others but make sense to some. They are unusual photos that cause someone to think. • He has won three major awards in the photography industry; Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal in 1981, Nationalbankens Jubilæumsfonds hæderslegat in 1996, and the Fogtdal Photographers Award in 2005. • He later became an architect after he retired from photography.

4. Photos by Keld Helmer-Petersen untitled #21,1948, Denmark Untitled #13, 1940 Untitled #20, 1940’s Untitled 6, 1940 Untitled #11, 1940’s

5. Untitled #21 • The lighting of the picture is natural. It is coming from the upper right-hand corner. The light makes the building look clean, and professional. I believe the main subject of the photo is the TEXACO logo on the left side of the building. All the colors in this picture are dull or not vibrant, but the TEXACO logo is bright red so it really stands out compared to the rest of the subjects. Rule of thirds applies to this photo by the logo not being directly in the center and having the buildings in different places of the picture. Thus making the picture more appealing to look at rather than a head-on shot of the TEXACO logo. I think Keld Helmer-Petersen took this picture because he was looking at ideas for his next architectural structure. I don’t think there is a story behind this photo. I selected this photo because it was so simple, but there is something familiar about it. I think it reminded me of a childhood gas-station next to a toy shop.

6. Untitled #13 • There is natural light coming from the left side of the ship horn. The lighting makes the horn look less rugged. The main focus of the picture is the chute because it is the only thing that stands out. Form makes this photo stand out because the horn looks 3-D from the angle the picture was taken. There is also texture showing how sleek and smooth the metal looks. I’m not sure what Helmer-Petersen is trying to say in this photo. I chose this picture because it was unusual. I have not seen very many pictures of a horn that I liked. I also thought it looked a little vintage, most ships don’t have theirs in the open anymore

7. Untitled #20 • The photo has natural light shining from the upper middle of the picture. I like how the light hits the wood beams just right making all the beams visible. The beams are the main focus of the photo. I know this because there is the beams and then the sky as a background. The wood beams make lines that seem to be endless because there are so many. The beams end up getting closer towards the center of the picture causing leading lines. I think Keld Helmer-Petersen is trying to show that simplicity is beautiful to. I chose this photo because it looked cool. The angle makes the beams look like they continue to go on forever.

8. Untitled 6 • The lighting of the picture is natural and coming from the front of the fence. The main focus of the photograph is the large number six printed on the face of the fence. Everything in the picture is bland with the exception of the random six on the fence. Rule of thirds applies to this photo because the six is off centered. I think the photographer is trying to say that just because something looks ordinary, it doesn’t make it not interesting. I selected this photo because it was very modern, and industrial.

9. Untitled #11 • Keld Helmer-Petersen used natural lighting for this photo. The sun is shining on the right side of the object. From the angle the sun is at it makes the shadow three times bigger than the handle. The main subject of the picture is the handle attached to the wall. The handle is the only thing in the photo besides the large shadow it casts. The handle is placed to the right of the picture creating rule of thirds. I think it was placed the handle there so the viewer could see the full shadow instead of cutting it off. I am not certain what the photographer is trying to communicate with his audience. I chose this photograph because it was so unique. Most people would just think of it as a handle. Helmer-Petersen saw it differently, So differently he had to take a picture of it.

10. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keld_Helmer-Petersen • http://www.photoutopia.co.uk/page11/page77/page77.html • http://hastedkraeutler.com/photos.php?a=keld_helmer_petersen&i=57351 • http://www.kasb.dk/dk/Menu/Om+Biblioteket/Nyheder/Fotoudstilling+af+Keld+Helmer-Petersen • http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/konst-form/fotolegenden-som--ger-gashud