Jochen Cerny
Jochen Cerny, born in Düsseldorf, inherited his artistic skills from both his grandmother, a passionate photographer with a sense of extraordinary details in b&w art, and his father who worked as a marketing consultant together with top industry photographers. Following his academic studies, he took his first attempts to become a professional photographer, but opted for a career as an investment banker in New York, London, and Frankfurt instead.
It was only some years ago that he re-discovered his passion for photographic art. Following a catalyst re-union with one of the world’s most famous photographers, Andreas Gursky, a friend from his childhood days, who confirmed his talent, he got inspired to professionalize his photographic works.
Today, Cerny’s style stands out from the commonly known classic photography in the way that he uses his self-developed and perfected “CMPB technique” that transforms different, individual digital “post-production” processes into a unique form of photographic art. In doing so, the object is changed by conscious color manipulation in such a way that the viewer is suggested to move primarily in a color space that finds a direct influence on his perception. However, the essence of the object is not alienated; the viewer should always recognize the basic features of the photographed object in its basic features.
Moreover, his newer works begin to resemble increasingly abstract paintings when exposure time and movement of the camera correspond with each other, changing the aperture. This Digital Photo Painting is somewhat unique among modern photographers as abstract shapes and objects remain in the foreground. Existing objects with their own artistic aesthetics become new works of art themselves.
His pictures do not intend to tell a “story” in the traditional sense, but rather than bringing more vibrancy to the object itself. Due to his acquaintances, his work is partially influenced by the so-called “Düsseldorf school of photography”, however, modified by his own idiosyncratic style with a focus on color and the object.
Over the last years, his work gained specific traction with multiple awards in high-profile photo challenges like Trierenberg Circuit, Monochrome Awards, Fotoforum Magazine, and Viewbug.