THOMAS LOHR
Thomas Lohr is a Paris based photographer whose work not only invites inspection but is also capable of arousing curiosity. After graduating from Berlin’s Lette-Verein he moved to New York City and then to London before settling in the French capital. In a short period of time, he has managed to make a name for himself, thanks to his distinctive fashion editorials and portraits. Often inspired by his admiration of modern dance and architecture his aesthetic blends a 90s minimalism with a psychologically fraught attitude that is clearly contemporary.
Lohr shoots the photos with a digital reflex camera and the images taken by him are not reworked. This is particularly visible in his personal project Birds, which presents images of unusual bird species in close-up. The emphasis on detail highlights the natural and immaculate aesthetic of the plumage’s colour and texture. Birds are volatile and timid animals and Lohr managed to capture them as they are in life, allowing a rare closeness. The photographer’s profound ability to develop intimacy with his subjects is also present in a series of images that resulted in a photo book, Gezeiten. In 2018 Lohr travelled to Ayrmer Cove on the shores of Devon to visit an ocean rock with a jagged, looming shape. This ritual quickly developed into a multifaceted interrelation eventually leading him to perceive the rock as a dynamic subject, with many different personalities. Surrounded by grass covered cliffs and grazing sheep, the photographer spent over 200 hours with the rock leading to a period of self-discovery that he describes as an important experience in his life.
The photographer often aims to highlight the experience presenting the viewer with subtle variations. His project Himmelblau has a profound impact on its viewers as it transports them into the sky's blue immensity. The photographs are of the same sky, with slight variations in light and colour, emphasising their commonality. The collection of photographs invites the audience to step away from their daily lives, an experience that brings people together and encourages them to view the world from a different perspective. Himmelblau captures the sky's beauty and its universal significance and through the project Lohr aims to highlight the shared human experience of looking up at the sky. It is a universal symbol of tranquility, serenity, and vastness. The photographs' similarity emphasises that we are all connected to each other, regardless of where we come from or what our backgrounds are. The images also inspire the audience to reflect on their place in the world and how they relate to others.
Undoubtedly Lohr’s photographs are characterised by the relationship he develops with his subject matter over long periods of time. Rather than using photography to digitise elusive moments, Lohr’s camera captures the regular attention he pays to his subjects. In return for his patience, they reveal details and changes hidden to the single snapshot or lost to undocumented experience.
