About me

Tomáš Paulus

*1983

In addition to their visual message old photographs always hid a certain atmosphere that today's digital cameras can rarely catch with their automatic lenses. Someone might argue that current PC graphic editors are able to imitate the feeling of black and white photographs. But I think it is a manual process of developing in the darkroom that is the main instrument for creation of the indelible impression of classic photography. Each image, developed and formed under the enlarger‘s lens is a unique piece and the author’s processing technology is his personal mark which defines his artwork. This fact is obvious especially nowadays, when digital photography due to it’s low cost and flexibility almost pushed aside the classical methods of chemical developing, where financial costs far outstrip those of digital technology, not mentioning the time consumption of Black and white process of developing.

My interest and passion for classic black and white photography was originally sparked by an old two lens camera Flexaret V, produced by Czech company Meopta, which I found in the corner of our attic where it had stood for years unnoticed. One day, while sorting out old stuff, I saved this piece and I wondered whether I could put this machine into operation, even if I can learn how to take pictures by using this piece of history. After shooting and developing several roll films I realized that the real expression which you can achieve by your view through the lens is the moment when the entire process is carried out by hand without the assistance of digital or machine processing in labs. I personally consider my most important step in establishing cooperation with the studio Fotorenesance , where I got the necessary experience under the supervision of Karel Koutský to build my own darkroom and began to perform the whole developing process and post processing on my own.

Currently, I dedicate most of my time to freelance photography, which for me represents a freedom of expression as well as means to capture images from different places around the world, which are presented in comprehensive thematic collections. All photos and film negatives are hand developed and processed without the use of digital technology. All my artwork is taken by medium format cameras, which also ensures a high degree of detail compared to conventional 35mm films. Each photograph is signed at the back and the total number of prints is strictly limited. As an additional service I offer black and white photo processing for customer specific requirements/needs.So take a plunge into the world of classic vintage photography with methods that have successfully survived generations of our ancestors and also represents a tangible part of our rich culture history for several centuries.

Respectfully

Tomas Paulus

Exhibitions realized:

2009 Fotorenesance atelier – thematic collection “forgotten Prague”
2010 Fotorenesance atelier – thematic collection “USA – Welcome to wasteland”
2012 Fotorenesance atelier – thematic collection “Shapes of modern Architecture”
2013 LA Photo - Los Angeles, California on behalf of Greisen Gallery 18.-21.1.2013
2013 Art Prague – Art exhibition on behalf of Greisen Gallery 19-24.3.2013
2013 PRAGUE PHOTO FESTIVAL 22. - 28. 4. 2013, Praha - Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Praha 1
2013 Tomas Paulus photography collection from 2007-2013 - červen - Vinárna u sv. Anežky
2013 Czech national bank – Tomas Paulus photography collection from 2007-2013
2013 Jacques Gallery - thematic collection “Balkane
2014 PRAGUE PHOTO FESTIVAL 7. - 13. 4. 2014, Praha - Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Praha 1
2014 Viniční Altán - collection of photos and poems "Welcome to Wasteland"; 2-12.9.2014

2015 PRAGUE PHOTO FESTIVAL 20. - 26. 4. 2015, Praha - Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Praha 1

2015 Uvnitř doby - international exhibition - Art residence ZAHRADNIK (květen-září)

2015 Open Air Foto Festival Český Krumlov - thematic collection "Around the world" (5-7.6.2015)

2015 Fotorenesance atelier - thematic collection "Around the world" (16-31.12.2015)

2016 PRAGUE PHOTO FESTIVAL 18. - 24. 4. 2016, Praha - Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Praha 1
2017 PRAGUE PHOTO FESTIVAL 24. - 30. 4. 2017, Praha - Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Praha 1
2017 KROM ART international exhibition - ROME - 8-11 June 2017 (Via Appia Antica 42)

Published works:

• Collection of photographs and poems from USA - "Welcome to Wasteland"
• Prague Photo Catalogue 2013-2018
• Pražský cyklus – limited collection of vintage prints with Prague theme

Equipment used:

• Pentacon six- single-lens reflex (SLR) medium format camera
• Twin-lens reflex camera Meopta - Flexaret VI, VII - 6x6cm
• Medium format camera Zeiss Ikonta 6x9cm
• Yashica MAT 124 6x6cm