Some of the photos have such an artistic quality, often straddling between the beautiful and the horrifying.
After being haunted by the Brandstätten images in December, I decided to purchase original photographs of WWII bombed out German cities. So far, I have acquired thirteen photographs from vendors in Europe and the US. One of the photos that I acquired was photographed by the official Nazi Photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann (see images above).
Some of the photos have such an artistic quality, often straddling between the beautiful and the horrifying. The GI photos with their slight motion blur add to the snapshot feel of each image. The RPPCs are simply gorgeous in composition, contrast, and tones. The seller that I purchased these from has more photos of bombed out German cities that I’m eager to buy, but they are pricey. The US Army Photos too, have a simulacrum quality that are riveting and surreal.
The Liminality in the Sublime
The word sublime comes to mind when I look at these photos. Sublime is a term that connotes both a sense of splendor and awe as well as horror and terror. For something to be sublime means to pass from one state into another and back again. The related word, subliminal, which means something existing or operating below the threshold of awareness---the liminal state between beauty and horror---it is here where an inexplicable emotion that exists below the threshold of awareness that I find myself with these photos.
I consider myself a keeper of dark objects in an attempt to extrapolate meaning and understanding of such homo factus materiae, manmade artifacts that upon deeper analysis and viewing offer a journey into the sublime.
A Growing & Varied Collection
Keeping a collection like this makes me feel unsettled at times, especially if the photos arrive psychically charged.
I’ve written about my photo collection before, and display additional photos of my collection on my website. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my collection as a whole and which areas I want to continue collecting. Original photos of pristine and destroyed World War II German aircrafts (i.e., Messerschmitts and Heinkels), are a growing sub category collection that is worthy of its own blog post. Given that Hans exclusively flew Messerschmitt Bf109s, and that his love for these planes postmortem continues unfettered, he often orchestrates these photos to appear on the internet for me from seemingly nowhere and often at ridiculously inexpensive prices, or, if found through online auctions, I will win the auction with minimal competition, if at all.
Since D-Day 2015, my World War II German photo collection has grown to include several subcategories: military portraits, bombed-out German cities, Messerschmitts, Panzers, and Dorniers, battle scenes, flak guns and military formation. All photos are authentic. If there is writing of the time period on the photo or if the photographer is identified on the photo all the better.
Keeping a collection like this makes me feel unsettled at times, especially if the photos arrive psychically charged---in these rare instances, I have been able to utilize my skills of psychometry. Antique photos and objects often carry their own energy that can at times arrive with unexpected visitors from the other side. Whenever this happens, I trust Hans to implement his gatekeeping abilities when relevant. In life as in death, Hans is a true warrior in every sense of the word. I don't expect him to fight all my battles, because I also must take responsibility for my own actions. But it's comforting to know the has my back when it comes to uninvited phenomena.
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