Truckers play a key role in our society. They ensure that goods and merchandise reach their destination safely and on time. They deserve our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. To do their job, they often have to drive long distances. Add to that the time pressure and unpredictable weather. Not to be ignored are the challenges to a family life. It is the nature of the job that most truck drivers are away from their families for long periods of time. While modern communication devices make it easier to stay in regular contact with family, the job can still cause additional emotional strain as special moments and events can be missed. 

Truckers deserve recognition and thanks from society.

Valentine’s Day is a big deal in retail. Every year on February 14, millions of flowers cross the counters of florist stores. The classic is certainly the red rose, it stands for passion and love.

I am concerned with the question of whether these flowers are really given away out of love and passion on Valentine’s Day.

• Does it need a Valentine’s Day to prove to a girlfriend or wife that I love her?
• Wouldn’t it be a greater proof of love to give flowers without a Valentine’s Day?

In this series, I portrayed men who brought flowers home to their girlfriends or wifes on Valentine’s Day.

Matthias Schinnerl, February 2023

Newer, better, bigger!

With good marketing, large retail groups try to convince us to buy their products. Often they convey success, glamor, exclusivity with their products. For many people, the retail groups are successful.

 I ask myself whether we all really need these products. Sure, when the smartphone breaks, a new one is needed. But often I have the feeling that we need a new one just because it’s newer and has a few improved features. Or is it about demonstrating something to ourselves and belonging to that elite circle? Isn’t it a constant competition? The most and most expensive toys, the best and most expensive smartphone, the most luxurious and beautiful car, the biggest swimming pool, … 

In my photo project BLACK Friday, I took portraits of people after shopping. I wanted to find out how people react to discounts and promotions. 

 Matthias Schinnerl, Winter 2022

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple Inc.) introduced the first iPhone, revolutionizing mobile telephony. The simple cell phone, which could essentially only be used to make calls and send text messages, was thus phased out. Gradually, these devices were replaced by smartphones. Today, you can hardly find an ordinary cell phone. The smartphone became a computer for on the go and mobile Internet use exploded. Today we use the smartphone for mails, music, navigation, socialmedia, and much more. No matter where you go, you almost always see people interacting with their smartphone.

The question is, are we turning into smartphone people?

To answer this question Matthias photographs people and their smartphones. In the digital image processing the smartphone is transformed into a kind of bar code. This code is randomly generated in the ratio „screen time to free time“ and then overlaid on the portrait. That is, the higher the screen time, the denser the barcode, the less recognizable the face. For the calculation of the barcode, the required data is determined together with the portrayed person. The screen time is read out from the smartphone and the free time is determined in a short interview.

The series of portraits „Beyond the Limits“ shows people who, immediately before the time of the photograph, finished a sports competition. Since I myself participated in countless sports competitions in my youth, I know from personal experience that the emotions built up in the competition are released after reaching the finishing line. With the photo project Limit Experience I would like to capture this outburst of emotions photographically. The participants are portrayed in the classic frontal view. The white background isolates the portrayed, so that the viewer can fully engage with the emotions. 

Matthias Schinnerl, Spring 2022