The possibilities for documenting and photographically reproducing art are as manifold as the manifestations of the visual arts.
Photography of artworks
Reproduction Photography
I guarantee faithful, color-accurate reproductions of your paintings and drawings, even if the works are behind glass. And with the use of sophisticated techniques, gilding, press brocade, plastic nimbuses, iridescent colors or lacquers and much more can be reproduced realistically.
Photographs of works of art
From the sober objective photography to the staged still life: contemporary and historical objects, sculptures, plastics and reliefs, arts and crafts or archaeological objects, ceramics, porcelain, glass as well as jewelry and textiles are set in the best light and professionally captured.
Documentation
Installations in interior or exterior spaces, exhibitions, ephemeral art, situation- and site-specific presentations: I will be pleased to document for you the temporary exhibition of a work or a group of works as well as art in architecture or art in public space.
Video captures of artworks and installations
In specific cases a video recording is indicated. This kind of documentation allows you to provide important information about the object or installation in addition to the photographic image.
I used this technique, for example, to capture objects by Markus Raetz and their diverse views and anamorphoses and make them comprehensible to the viewer on the Internet.
In the same way, an effective, dramatic staging of valuable objects is possible.
Consulting
Archives and graphics collections appreciate my advice when planning and managing digitization projects. The needs are often very different, from small images for the database to high quality reproductions according to the FADGI, Metamorfoze and ISO 19264-1 standards and guidelines. My consulting ranges from setting up the lighting and creating the color profiles to the planning, implementation and support of the entire project: advice on purchasing equipment, setting up the reproduction studio, defining the resolution, creating the color profiles, settings (white balance, input curve, color saturation, flat field correction, lens cast calibration, lens corrections, sharpening, file formats), color management, file naming, metadata, export presets, quality control, validation of test results, storage and data management.
In this context, I also offer professional training for your employees.
Scientific photography
Contact me for infrared reflectography, infrared luminescence, infrared transmission photography, grazing light, transmitted light photography and UV fluorescence photography of your paintings or the digital capture of analog x-ray images.
If necessary, I consult with my colleague Prof. Markus Küffner, a recognized specialist in art technology (lecturer, Bern University of the Arts, Conservation and Restoration) for such projects.
This article, which Markus Küffner, Dr. Jens Stenger and I wrote several years ago for the annual report of SIK-ISEA, explains the technical photography of paintings and radiodiagnostic procedures.
Philipp Hitz
I have been photographing works of art, paintings, graphics, documents, sculptures, craft objects and documenting exhibitions and installations for over 12 years. My clients are artists, galleries, auction houses, museums, corporate collections, artist estates and private collectors.
Since March 2020, I’m working as a freelance photographer. Before that I was head of the photography department at the Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA) in Zurich for almost 10 years.
2017-2020, I was lecturer in the advanced education course CAS "Applied Art Science. Material and Technology" a cooperation between SIK-ISEA and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Professional photographer since 1997.
Experience as photo assistant in Paris, London and Zurich.
Studies at the Spéos Paris Photographic Institute.
Born and raised in Lucerne, Switzerland (*1973), I am currently living in the medieval town of Willisau, in the Lucerne hinterland at the foot of the Napf Mountain (since 2023).
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Member SIYU professional photography switzerland.
Publications
My photographs have appeared in more than 50 publications to date. On the one hand in numerous exhibition catalogues, collection catalogues and artist monographs, published by institutions and publishers worldwide, on the other hand in publications, catalogues of works and catalogue raisonnés of the Swiss Institute for Art Research.
You can find a selection from the list of publications on my LinkedIn profile.
Studio?
I photograph for clients all over Europe. For this purpose I have a professional, mobile studio and photograph your works of art on site, in the exhibition hall, gallery, studio, depot, warehouse, archive or at your home.
This allows us to avoid transportation of the objects and exposing them to unnecessary risks.
At your request, a well-equipped and alarm-secured studio in your city can be rented for larger assignments.
Please contact me
Please feel free to describe your needs to me in a personal conversation. Ask for an offer. Arrange an appointment.
I look forward to it.
„L'histoire de l'art depuis cent ans, dès qu'elle échappe aux spécialistes, est l'histoire de ce qui est photographiable.“
André Malraux : Psychologie de l'Art – Chapitre premier : «Le Musée imaginaire», Labyrinthe, 22-23 décembre 1946, n° 22, p. 1-2. Pages préoriginales de la Psychologie de l'art.