The Photography of Hilla & Bernd Becher | The importance of memory.

If you remember the video where we talked about the photography of David Lynch then you know why we have this video today :) The Bechers were an inspiration for many artists and today we have a look at their amazing photography. Thank you so much for watching & make sure you check the links in the description to learn of ways to support their art.
Video Breakdown
00:00 - Intro
1:11 - Hilla & Bernd Becher
03:39 - Rowing against Time & The Importance of Memory
6:09 - What can we learn from formalism?
06:52 - The Becher school
More on Hilla & Bernd
bernd-hilla.becher-film.com/
www.artnet.com/artists/bernd-a...
www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/b...
Affordable books on & about their work (some affiliate links)
Bernd & Hilla Becher: Basic Forms by Thierry De Duve
amzn.to/3tVakey
Bernd Becher & Hilla Becher: Coal Mines and Steel Mills
amzn.to/3w6Ui2T
Bernd Becher & Hilla Becher: Framework Houses
amzn.to/3eTioYU
Footage Sources
Industrial Landscape
• Industrial Landscape
Post War Germany
• Berlin and Potsdam 194...
Hilla and Bernd Becher invented a new genre of photography
• Hilla and Bernd Becher...
Song(s) / Artist(s)
Self by Beatowski (Licensed)
Links to my work
www.thopper.uk/
/ tffhopper
Disclaimer
This video its an incentive to educate viewers about the brilliant careers of Hilla & Bernd Becher and their impact in the photography & art worlds, as well as, an incentive to support their photography career, thus falling into the category of fair use copyright usage.
Our camera does not produce pretty pictures, but exact duplications that, through our renunciation of photographic effects, turn out to be relatively objective. The photo can optically replace its object to a certain degree. This takes on special meaning if the object cannot be preserved.
Bernd & Hilla Becher
🇩🇪 Tatiana entschuldigt sich aufrichtig für jede deutsche falsche Aussprache von Namen und Orten. Sie hat ihr Bestes versucht. Und ja, wir haben das mit Google übersetzt. 🇩🇪
Diane
The Photography of Hilla & Bernd Becher, the importance of memory.
May 2021

[@arockwell4408]

I don’t know how many people realize the amount of research and content development that goes into your videos. It’s clear to me at least, as evidenced by the quality of your work. ✌️

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you, I do a lot of research that’s true and I appreciate you for seeing value in that and appreciate even more the support to the channel and my work. All the best @ARockwell! Peace ✌🏻

[@kevinmorgan7091]

I saw an exhibition of their work a couple of years ago and some people present said the pictures were repetitive, but to me they represented my past. Driving through the South Wales valleys you could see the mines and steel works everywhere and they are the memories I still have, even though all of these places are long gone. The recording of a place with a photograph is incredibly important because everything changes so quickly now. I can describe to people how somewhere used look, but to have a photograph to show too is priceless and something to be passed on to future generations.

[@BillAmstutz]

The thing I appreciate about the Becher's work is how it helps me be more creative in the way I look at the world. The understanding that seeing is a creative act. Thanks!

[@AbdelaziZuniga]

I love this kind of tipology of architechture

[@haimtoeg]

I really appreciate you introducing me to so many photographers I did not know about. Thank you!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you! :)

[@alexcarrillo5510]

I love their Water Tower series, it reminded me when I was in Denmark in the late 1980's early 1990's when I was photographing the water towers there.... I remember seeing theri work printed on the Swiss Photo Magazine called CAMERA, and also the Trade photo magazine International Photo Technique in the mid 1980's..

[@TatianaHopper]

Their work is honestly very contagious and does push us into finding similar subjects ourselves.

[@dgorenc66]

I would have loved to do what they did in Slovenia 1979 when I was there {I was only 11} , I see google maps now and see a lot of my Aunts town that looks so different .........I love the idea of shooting non- touristic subjects ........I will do so more in my town of Winnipeg Mb Canada . YOUR CHANNEL is SO AWESOME .....you ROCK Period ....thanks for being there for us .......

[@TatianaHopper]

You should definitely do that in your town, bet you will really enjoy photographing that heritage. And thank you so much for those words, appreciate you ✌🏻💪🏻

[@teacherdude]

Photography for me is a means to revive memories, a way of connecting me with different periods in my life. In addition it has allowed me bear witness to the often turbulent times Greece has been through over the last decades. Whether it is documenting the plight of refugees travelling north or desperate political protests in the streets, I have been able to preserve a record of those moments that may not have been seen otherwise.

[@oudviola]

Thanks, this expands my appreciation for these artists and their work. Interesting that photography, that freezes time, is also so involved in the flow of time.

[@TatianaHopper]

So true. I love the concept of time and photography definitely something to explore.

[@KeithEmmerichDOTcom]

These 2 and Charles Sheeler were a huge influence for me.

[@louhautdavid6451]

Years ago, I wouldn't apreciate the Bechers'work. I found their photographs too clinical, but I completely changed my mind. There's something beautiful in their apparent simplicity, like a silent prayer. I think they also give a lesson about rules. It's about choosing the ones that fit to the message.

[@geoffmphotography9444]

Clear, concise and interesting.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Geoff!

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

i can completely relate to what drew them to these buildings. i also like to go into abandoned buildings to document them in an artistic way. of course also on video. it has such a strange atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else. thank you for this video!

[@TatianaHopper]

I think their photography falls in so many categories: art, documentation, archive, typography. And replicates so many similar structures yet every single one of them as their own beauty which is why we should continue to capture / record the essence of these buildings.

[@kevinlack5634]

Another excellent video. I’d heard of them over the years but never really looked into their work before. Your video has shown me that I need do this very soon :)

[@nateethington4987]

Thank you for sharing these amazing artists. This is the first I've seen/heard of their work and I loved it. I always look forward to your videos! thank you for making them!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Nate, really appreciate it! Peace ✌🏻

[@cpprki]

MY FAVORITE! So happy you made this video 🙌🏻

[@TatianaHopper]

✌🏻

[@tomreese2285]

Once again you bring another level of exploration and perspective beyond the obvious! I love the organic and pure nature of their work. I never would have seen it if not for you.You always inspire...thank you!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Tom glad I can always inspire! :)

[@EdwardIglesias]

This is the kind of subject matter that so hard to do right. Thanks again for another great video.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Edward!

[@johngskewes]

Wow. I have some much admiration for the formalist mindset. So much technical brilliance and artistic focus - over such a long period - and to never waver. Just stunning. The volume, the amount of subject in the frame of these images is mind boggling. Thank you T for presenting this.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you John!

[@sameerrao5834]

Such a well made video! Very insightful, articulate and accompanied by the Bechers' beautiful photos. A pleasure to watch.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Sameer, appreciate it!

[@pasi7767]

thanks for that great video. i live in bochum, in an area they took lots of photos of. and it gives me goosebumps, because our area here is built on the industry they captured. everybody who is born and raised here is proud of the history and the multicultural living together here that sprung of from that golden era. such photographs are so much worth. and on an artistic aspect i love the work of the bechers and what developed from there teaching called "Düsseldorfer Fotoschule". To me that all feels like order in chaos. chaos in particular times, or chaos in the mass of human acting in that world. greetings from industrial germany

[@TatianaHopper]

Hey Pasi, so cool, I’ve been to Bochum and having family there and in Düsseldorf I remember visiting the place and feeling the connection with the industry and it having areas of heavy industry like coal and such. I felt it from an outsider perspective but I can only imagine how cool it must be to see the heritage of your town / background captured by the Beechers. Glad they recorded it as much as they could!

[@marcusjochum]

Hahaaa nice, been anticipating this couple would come up! Thank you! I share your sentiments about this preservation of memory, you put it very nicely... To me, the "interweaving" of my family and their history with our region has always drawn me in. Walking among the decaying remnants of the coal and steel industry here has always felt like sifting through dinosaur bones intermingled with the bones of distantly related people. Only that I can still see and feel these buildings, whereas I mostly only have faded photos of those lives.

[@TatianaHopper]

Relate with what you wrote so much. In my family’s case was mills and field work. It’s all intertwined like a sort of unspoken heritage.

[@diforbes]

A timely video for me as I am recently becoming interested in photography of the New Topographics school.

[@TatianaHopper]

Fantastic Dean! Thank you for watching!

[@JamieMPhoto]

The Bechers were really important for me understanding formalism and typologies, too. I think it leads to understanding the importance of intent in process and choosing subjects/images. Despite what the "Death of the artist" types might think ...

[@TatianaHopper]

Completely agree. Man this video could’ve been an hour long just on things we can take from their work. Honestly so glad they were able to capture so much and so well, their work will forever be important for present and future generations who look forward to learn more about photography / documentary.

[@loukashareangas4420]

This time I knew about your subject. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their work and this type of photography. Whenever I view their photographs I have the following question (also if you'd like, a video idea): When does technical photography stop being technical and becomes art? Because their photographs are technically perfect but the repeating subject and its presentation can also be interpreted as art! Line in the sand I guess.

[@TatianaHopper]

Really interesting question Loukas and I it reminded me of what Andy Warhol once said “it’s art if you see it as art” which brings back the concept of art being a subjective thing. I’m pretty sure still to these days there’s critics who won’t accept the Bechers work as art because it boils down to what is art and everyone seems to have a different definition and values as to what is and what is not. Yet again I love how technically perfect their work is.

[@mikskinner6431]

That ended waaaay too soon. Thank you so much for the introduction to Hilla and Bernd.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for watching! ✨

[@Brendan9674]

I’m always left wanting more...

[@ReimannPembroke]

Awesome video as always! Some of those structures like that grain elevator in France are incredible! I like to photograph old buildings that I feel like might be taken down in the near future. I feel a sense of responsibility as a photographer to record things like old buildings, cars, ways of life, etc because we never know how long they will last. It’s also really cool to look back on photos from the past to see people and things in their prime. Imagine seeing a photo of the great pyramids when they were new. That would be truly amazing and since we have access to so many cameras, we should document all we can

[@TatianaHopper]

Absolutely agree with you Reimann, I remember having to do a little short film for film school and my subject was memory so I filmed my family and their old house before it got torn apart, and I felt a responsibility as a creative / photographer to capture that and ever since whenever I visit my family I take photos of them and buildings from the town where they live because I’ve always felt it’s good to capture them for preservation of what they were but also to compare and have a visible image of “the passage of time”.

[@patyeaman]

Thank you! This video made me aware that my photographic style is an "Ode to Memory". I have been thinking about what my style was since I watched your video on that topic. I thought perhaps I had no stlye until I watched this when it became so clear to me that I actually do.

[@Joseph_Greco]

Some of the purest "art" is the recording of family history and memories. I have family albums with photos over 100 years old. The quality of large roll film at the time and b/w prints is precious. I wonder if the billions, if not trillions, of digital jpg selfies made by families today will survive in the future or just be lost memories. Good vid...😎

[@TatianaHopper]

Very good point Joseph. I do agree entirely with you and also brought to mind the physicality of film, when you go through a family’s photo album and you can touch the photos and the experience is completely different than that of now swiping through the photos on the phone. In my mind, it might be old fashion and whatever people want to say, but film will always prevail. 🎞✌🏻

[@falldown7xstandup8x83]

After seeing their exhibition at Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin I felt that their work is not only about this image compared to this one but also about all of the images at once. Hundreds (if not thousands) of the images were displayed in huge grids, covering the walls, room after room. The outcome was overwhelming. I do not remember a single image in particular but rather an image of all the images. Very powerful. By capturing everything you loose everything.

[@reinhold61]

I have liked these images for decades and they are always different because time moves on. Nothing stays the same and these photos are much more than memories of a vanished world. For so many people, these factories and buildings were their whole life. Memories, joy and sorrow, love and destruction ... Once again a glimpse into a "different" world and once again my thanks for this. BTW: Of course I would like to see a video about Andreas Gursky's work and hear your thoughts on it.

[@TatianaHopper]

Hey Reinhold, absolutely spot on that comment. Completely agree with you, so many generations of my family worked for factories and everyone on their villages depended on it. It was the support of the entire community. And looking back those were times and atmospheres and indeed will be hard to replicate these days. Thank you for watching and as for Andreas Gursky I’m down!

[@lesz344]

@@TatianaHopper It's only a few steps from the Bechers to Gursky's '99 cent store' - changes to color and size but some of the perspectives are similar. Here, in California, I shop at a '99 cents only' store that has two prints of the famous Gursky photo on its walls. When I asked if I could buy copies of the prints for 99 cents, they said 'no.' I found out later that they had to be ordered for $25 from the Museum of Modern Art in NY. I wonder what the Becher influence was on the painting and photos of Gerhard Richter.

[@TatianaHopper]

That’s crazy, respect to you at least you tried to get one for 99 cents I probably would’ve done the same ahah, and actually I wasn’t very familiar with Gursky’s work, I knew of a few photos but I can definitely see myself getting entangled in it soon and finding out more. I feel like looking at those paintings and gursky’s photos and Ed ruscha’s work it’s interesting to put in perspective how everything seems to have a connection in art. If not by formalism at least by similar subjects or themes behind.

[@reinhold61]

In my view, Andreas Gursky's pictures are rather philosophical representations of an existentialist view of the world. He shows the cold, sometimes inhuman attractiveness of our world ...

[@terrylstarks]

I have subbed to over 100 UTube channels of different topics. But your channel is the only one I look forward to the next video before I have finished watching your present work. Who will be next? I can’t wait to see!!!!!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Terry, always have tricks up my sleeve ahaha ;) appreciate you for watching the channel!

[@poisonthesalt9239]

Amazing channel. Thanks you so much for this amazing content.

[@3BMEP]

Really enjoying your work. Keep going!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you! Appreciate it!

[@erichartke4331]

I love your series on other photographers great job! 👏

Amazing as always 👏🏼👏🏼

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you !

[@clairefear3215]

So so good .... thank you.

[@TatianaHopper]

Appreciate it, cheers for watching!

[@DavidGBlair]

Another great essay. I’m learning a lot from your videos. The correct perspective from a view camera makes me want one. Software correction never gets it quite right

[@samvorms6163]

The typology form that the work adopted actually came from Hilla and her interest for biology book, as she explained in an interview in 2014

[@JUSTPOOPOO]

Great presentation. Thank you.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for watching!

[@Jpackardphoto]

Learned so much, thank you!!

[@TatianaHopper]

Cheers for watching!

[@billgreen4514]

Great video, I have always really loved their work.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Bill!

[@Sreybk]

If photography hadn't been invented so many memories and periods of history would have been lost. I agree, that is probably the most important aspect.

[@TatianaHopper]

Absolutely. I think photography and then movies (for instance the beginning of short films with the Lumière brothers) were vital in recording the world and our evolution!

[@Joshzphoto]

This was wonderful!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you!

[@camilopachon3642]

Thank you for the amazing job that you you.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for watching!

[@northof-62]

I remember these pictures. I wonder if I saw (some of) them in Alan Porter's Camera magazine that I subsrcibed to back then. I was heavily influenced by that magazine. Sad to see it go. Also regret not having had the ability to record the world of my child hood and youth. I didn't get a camera before I was 20 and by then so much of that world had disappeared already.

[@CmeToThDrkSide]

I find it sad most art is unobtainable for us common people. During of your recent videos I thought that Id love to hang prints of the "old masters". I get that the original or numbered prints are rare, but I can barely afford my own rolls of film... To the galleries and licensees, please make art obtainable. And to you, thanks for introducing us to these great photographers ✌️

[@TatianaHopper]

I understand your point, in my opinion I feel that a lot of people (CEOs, galleries...) live in a world where they’re not aware of reality as it is, that not all of us come from the same background and have the same economic power and I feel that regardless of who we are or where we come from we all have a right to knowledge and access to art and that’s one of the reasons why I make these videos because I want to share with others knowledge and what we can learn from other photographers and meaningful work.

[@ralfnagel1909]

I really like your pronunciation of the German names. You are close to perfection :-)

[@TatianaHopper]

ahah thank you Ralf I was trying very hard! I got to say its a challenge to pronounce anything in German :)

[@simohammedfettaka729]

🔥🙌

[@carlcruysberghs2298]

❤

[@nozap666]

respect.

[@J.Koenige]

Really interesting Video! Thanks for sharing, I didnt know his work at all. For sure there is some art in making beautiful or interesting somthing that at first sight it is meant to be boring or routinary. Nice german accent btw ;)

[@TatianaHopper]

Completely agree, art is what you make of it, literally. Sometimes this can be pushed too far, but mostly it also allows for typologies and formalism such as the Becheers, who undoubted prove their worth and importance time and time again. As for my German it took me a few tries ahahah

[@philippegodart4778]

Hi, this time you changed the music...😊 Still great vidéo. Watching your videos and hearing your voice is my relaxing Time. I really enjoy what you are doing. Thanks for this

[@TatianaHopper]

Cheers Philippe!

[@philippegodart4778]

@@TatianaHopper I also had a look on your website.... I’m sure you can do better to highlight your créations and show what you are capable. Note well It amused me and I hope I have not offended you ...

[@TatianaHopper]

@@philippegodart4778 what do you mean? I accept all positive constructive criticism.

[@philippegodart4778]

@@TatianaHopper maybe you can add directly some photos under the website. There is well the Instagram link but maybe adding some photos there and refer clearly that all could be seen on Instagram and don’t say that you are a partime looser because you are all exepted that.... be proud of you and your work...

[@TatianaHopper]

@@philippegodart4778 I see, once you open the website there’s a gallery with my work and then two entire pages of work black and white and colour (which I have to admit I need to update more but very rarely have the time to do it) and another page with some samples of my writing work and about the loser that’s clearly a joke because I’m an ironic person. Ans just like the bio in my channel “I’m Tatiana and I do what I want” shows I’m not someone who would put me or my work down otherwise I wouldn’t even make videos for KZbin. It just shows I like to have a laugh and take things not so seriously sometimes :) For sure there are some videos on my channel where I do share my work and I’ll more of them soon. Thank you for the feedback!

[@MichaelRapp_Lichtgeplauder]

Verrry nice, i also applaude you on your handling of the Umlaute, which can be a bitch to handle to non- native speakers. Another photographer influenced by the "Neue Sachlichkeit" is Martin Schoeller (I think he mentioned it in a ted talk) - his ever growing body of portraits, all lit in the same face- on (no pun intended), flat, no- nonsense style, face after face. Love your channel, Miss H.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for watching Michael and for taking your time to comment! Really appreciate your words and suggestion regarding Martin's work, I shall definitely investigate it and see what it's all about. Much love back!

[@neilpiper9889]

More More More

[@walterglover3423]

I do not think it is drawing too long aboutI do not think it is drawing too long a bow to suggest, Tatiana, that you are to photo criticismthat you are to photo criticism on U-tube on U-tube what the bases were to photography to photography. For that we are truly grateful. Fantastic to see mention of Stephen Shore and Edward Ruscha: I am particularly fond on the New Topographics and wonder if we'll ever see you deal with Lewis Baltz and Robert Adams.

[@walterglover3423]

Apologies for the voice to text getting away prior to editing. :(

[@TatianaHopper]

Hello Walter, could you find a way of writing down the first sentences I would love to reply properly but I have no idea what the three first sentences mean ahah Thank you for your support and for watching the channel!

[@walterglover3423]

@@TatianaHopper I do not think it is drawing too long a bow to suggest, Tatiana, that you are to photo discussion on KZbin what the Bechers were to photography itself. For that we are truly grateful. Fantastic to see mention of Stephen Shore and Edward Ruscha: I am particularly fond on the New Topographics and wonder if we'll ever see you deal with Lewis Baltz and Robert Adams

[@walterglover3423]

Thank you for requesting the clarification and allowing me space.

[@nathanmeyer6743]

For the algorithm

[@patrickbateman6768]

am i the only one who thinks her videos are way too low? I have the volume all the way up on my earbud and laptop.