A few thoughts, yes all the images here have been altered in photoshop to a greater or less degree, but nothing wrong with that, I prefer to call them “illustrations” rather than photographs, I am interested in all things old or vintage and the good people of 1940s re-enactor groups are a fertile source of inspiration, my aim is to increase and reinforce the vintage experience by removing any inappropriate modern details, such as present day dress, buildings, cars etc. or, more commonly, to remove a re-enactor completely from his or her original background and paste them into a genuine period photograph. Surely the very essence of re-enacting is to recreate life as it was in the 1940s, with as much authenticity as possible, but given the crowded nature of these re-enactor events, it is inevitable some intrusive modern details will be included by even the most skilled photographer. Which is where I, and others who have much more skill than I have, come in. We would argue it is a legitimate form of art illustration, I call it “Painting with photographs”

I do not think, for a moment, I am making any original photo better, in the sense that the photo lacked something in the first place, no, I aim to give vintage detail that nither re-enactor or photographer could not possibly have captured in the circumstances, then to add some historical or political reference to give context. I would not claim to be successful in pleasing everyone, but am very grateful to photographers and re-enactors who allow me to use their photos, I am motivated and inspired by, amount others, the great American artist and illustrator Norman Rockwell, who aimed to tell a complete story with just one illustration. also by the real Jan Saudek, the Czechoslovakian artist photographer who was doing photoshop things long before the computer was invented.

thank you and may your vintage experience prosper

jan