Visual Independence – a photo*graphic experience, was launched on January 23rd 2012 by Jans Bock-Schroeder. V.I. is a seasonal online publication with a weekly Blog (every Thursday) daily updated on its social media channels as well as a monthly newsletter.
My Family Background is Photography. Both my parents are photographers. My father Peter Bock-Schroeder (1913-2001) was an acknowledged photo journalist. He worked amongst others for Stern Magazine. In the 1950 and 60’s he travelled the world. As a globetrotter he photographed in South and North America. In 1956 he was the first West German photographer to be allowed to photograph in the USSR. In 1957 he covered the Suez Crisis in the Middle East. In 1972 he worked with Otl Aicher during the Munich Olympics, as photographer and co-ordinator of the international press team. At the age of 60 he signed a contract with the “Munich International Airport Press Department”. His architectural and portrait works of that time were published in books and magazines. When Peter Bock-Schroeder died on February 19th 2001 he left behind a photographic archive of remarkable range and power.
An enormous body of work that spans his six decade career as a world traveling photo journalist. It includes more than 6,000 negatives and more than 1,000 vintage prints.
My Mother IBS Geissler worked as Fashion and Portrait Photographer in the 1970’s. Major German Magazines published her work. She sacrificed her career to raise her four children, but nevertheless worked on her art projects. She is still active today and currently works on the second edition of her book: Ganz schön schwanger (Pretty Pregnant).
I started with photography at the age of 35. Before that my life was devoted to music. After my father’s death in 2001, I moved to England to work as fashion photographer. Very soon I realized that the fashion business was not for me, and by lucky chance I visited the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London. Inspired by his collection not only my approach to photography changed, but I also decided to present Peter Bock-Schroeder’s work to the world.
After itemizing and cataloguing the images I started to travel with my father’s work. I went to Paris and New York to visit the fairs and to get an idea about this “strange” photo business. Through Michael Hoppen I met Anne Tucker who acquired vintage prints for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. In 2010 I move to Paris and met photo dealer Serge Plantureux who has become a great help over the years. He provided me with material for the Visual Independence Site and also inspired me to re-photograph my father’s work. In 2010 he presented the project “Bock-Schroeder by Bock-Schroeder” during Paris Photo in Grand Palais, Paris.
The Visual Independence Site has become a platform for emerging photographers around the world as well as my parents and my own work. In January 2013 Visual Independence teamed up with Dominique Turck and we now plan strategies to take to site to the next level.
Jans Bock-Schroeder
