Working as an author or image journalist is an integral part of studying illustration. The impact of visual essay and illustrated reportage comes from the interplay between text and picture, between overall impression and detailed view.
The work begins with a question, and this is followed by research – research involving the artist’s own work to date, as well as finding and collecting material, thoughts and ideas. In a second step the material gathered is reviewed, a selection is made, and this is dramaturgically composed and structured. In the case of reportage an external issue tends to be foreground, while the essay requires the perception of and translation by the author.
Two example of a visual essay with Yves Noyau. The issue was a meeting with alumni students.
Lea Siegwart a portrait of Matthias Hachen
Ivo Habermacher a portrait of Lorenz Rieser
„It must be here.“
„Excuse me. I’m looking for the studio of Ivo Habermacher?“
„Ivo? Right here.“
„ … with the soft focus …“
„Hello.“
„Hi, Lorenz. Have a seat, please. My niece is just showing me something“
„Or you go to picture, then to adapt and colour correction … Yes, exactly“
„And now, I would turn down the cyan a little. Okay? … Fine …I`ll go now …Bye.“
„It’s not so spectacular“.
„Oh, but it is.“
„What are you working at right now?“
„This is for a Gay Bear magazine“.
„A what?“
“You know, I’m gay. And the gay bears are a sub-group of the gay scene. They go for strong, bearded men.“
“And this one I started for my godchild.“
„Do you have siblings?“
„I have five older sisters. The eldest has a pub. We could go there and have a drink.“
„OK, great idea.“
„I lead the way. It’s not far.“
„Okay.“
„This was only 500 yards.”
„Yes, it´s quite close.“
„Do you like Rickenbach?“
„Yeah, sure.”
„This is my sister.“
„Hi.“
“Hello.”
“Hi there. Hello Mam.”
„Hello, Sarah.“
„Did the exam go well?“
„I´m off now, bye.“
This two example of a visual essay with Yves Noyau. This was a reportage of the area in the press.
I’m Matthias the Superman a Reportage of Alessia Conidi
Producing high response with minimal effort.
Everything is subjective.
An editor has to be enthusiastic, he needs to like his work, be interested, delight in the creative with heart and soul and have a personality.
I do not judge I only show them as they are. You really don´t need to like the ones you portray, it´s not working like this.
He is a reporter to the core always trying to be in the spot where stories are written.
Triumph of rationalisation Reportage of Tomas Fryscak
It´s bedlam! Everybody here is mad. But it has to be like that in order to work! It´s fantastic.
Labourers eliminated in the printing process now work in print supervision or computer science.
A computer scientist working in other print shops and banks told me that there as well everybody is quite mad. Nonetheless it´s a dream to work here compared with a bank where all is prim and
detached.
