Johannes Bockemühl-Simon de JOBO: Interview about Analog Photography

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon in an interview: “There is no ‘Virtual Reality’ – no ‘Augmented Reality’ – but real photography,” this is how Johannes Bockemühl-Simon describes analog photography. In our interview, the CEO of JOBO, who once developed the authenticity of the first NASA lunar images, tells us what fascinates him so much about analog photography. Jobo products can be found in almost all photography labs around the world.

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The roots of photography: analog photography requires time and passion

JOBO Authenticity Test of NASA’s First Lunar Image

Before and after photos with LensTRUE

Creative work – According to the expert, analog photography is slowing down

Get more information about Jobo and the LensTRUE system here:

The roots of photography: analog photography requires time and passion

FIV: Hello, Mr. Bockemühl-Simon, could you briefly introduce your company to our readers?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: JOBO: We love photos. Up to the moon and back.

Quality, commitment and professionalism have brought us to the top of the photography world. The motivation to keep challenging ourselves to get the best image, all the way to the moon. It was 1969, the year humanity was about to take the most important step towards space: the first manned flight to the moon. Apollo 11. All of this was captured photographically – with a Hasselblad. But the camera only captured everything on a beautiful analog film, with a silver halide coating. On the moon, only the “latent image” was created. Nothing has yet been proven. The negative was still unrevealed.

But everything in photography (and in materialist perspective) depends on the “visible image”. The “real image” was necessary. Who better to entrust the transformation of these historical proofs than the JOBO development team? Yes, you heard right:

JOBO Authenticity Test of NASA’s First Lunar Image

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Using the JOBO photographic equipment from Gummersbach, near Cologne, West Germany, the latent image became the visible image. The VISIBLE TEST. A double test. Man, in his desire for the infinite, has for the first time reached the moon. But at the same time, it is also a test with a political message: the free man with unrestrained zeal and almost unlimited economic possibilities (the “West”) reaches the moon.

But not only in the West, but only FIRST in the West. Because the moon was not going to lose its importance for humanity, nor for the small photographic manufacturer from Gummersbach (JOBO). Later, the EAST established its own standards with the MIR. The MIR contained a complete photographic laboratory with -yes, you will guess, exactly (!)- JOBO developing equipment for photos from space!

Well, in reality we should say: we love photos. All the way to the moon and back!

FIV: What exactly fascinates you about analog photography compared to digital?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: The most authentic way to learn and appreciate the art of photography is analog photography. Nothing can replace the experience of working with silver halide films.

The fascination of creating unique prints on silver halide paper cannot be digitally reproduced: return to the roots of photography! Rarely is the human impulse for beauty and truth as closely related as in analog photography. The analog can be consciously designed, but the image itself can hardly be manipulated, something very different from what happens with Photoshop. Working analogically requires time and passion. If you don’t have time, you have to take photos.

Not “virtual reality” nor “augmented reality”, but real photography.

FIV: What themes and products are offered on your website?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: First of all, at JOBO we offer analog photographic accessories for your own processing of films. We have also recently added to our range the beautiful viewfinder cameras from CHAMONIX: cameras made of teak and carbon: new technology for the old school.

For the demanding digital photographer, we also offer a unique perspective correction system: LensTRUE.

FIV: How exactly does the LensTRUE system work?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: On the one hand, the LensTRUE system consists of hardware that measures the camera’s tilt with a sophisticated GYRO sensor. In addition, the LensTRUE system consists of software that synchronizes these tilt data with the photos and then calculates an automatic perspective correction.

Until now, this was only possible with shift lenses for DSLR cameras. Basically, LensTRUE turns each lens into a shift lens. Currently, almost all full-frame DSLRs are stored in the software. Currently it is only compatible with Mac. Apple in front of the window 😉 .

Before and after photos with LensTRUE

The original unedited image

After processing it with the LensTRUE software it looks like this… a big change!

Creative work – According to the expert, analog photography is slowing down

FIV: What tips for analog photography can you give to our readers?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: Take your time. What matters is not the number of images, but the deliberate composition. The reduction to form and the shading of black and white has a special charm with the coarse-grain film. Great for portraits.

Self-developing from black and white is not complicated and allows you to quickly achieve good results. It is creative work that slows you down.

FIV: Who inspires you, who is a “role model” for you?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: My favorite artist is Michelangelo, even though he was before photography. Realism and expression were never so closely united before him. He literally reached the depths of nature. The photographic works of John Sexton – an American landscape photographer who studied with Ansel Adams – are of the highest level of craftsmanship and artistic quality.

FIV: How do you differentiate yourself from the competition?

Johannes Bockemühl-Simon: JOBO is the specialist in lab processing and darkroom. JOBO processors are the result of decades of experience by engineers and photographers. The famous black and red JOBO can is found in almost all photographic laboratories, from China to the United States.

If you want to develop your own 8×10″ images from your view camera, you will hardly be able to avoid JOBO’s Expert Drums. Unfortunately, the analog photography market is a small niche, but it is growing. Paradoxically, demand for analog photography is growing again, not only in galleries but also among the young.

In the arbitrariness of digital, an analog original simply stands out.