Photographer Michael Honegger explores his father's life as a spy during the Cold War, combining personal images and spy cameras in a photography project. He discusses the creative design process of a book and the challenges of obtaining research documents. The chapter also highlights the changing landscape of the photography industry and the importance of publishing and sharing your work.
Michael Honegger's project 'The Need to Know' combines personal images, archival materials, and tools of the trade to shed light on the hidden world of espionage and the impact it had on his family.
Michael emphasizes the importance of putting one's work out into the world, connecting with others who appreciate and understand it, and embracing opportunities, such as publishing a book, to reach a wider audience.
Deep dives
Discovering Family Secrets
The podcast episode explores the story of Michael Honnegger, whose father was a Cold War spy. Growing up, Michael began to realize his father's secretive nature and involvement in espionage through coded conversations and odd occurrences. As an adult, Michael embarked on a project to document his father's life as a spy and the Cold War era. The project, titled 'The Need to Know,' combines personal images, archival materials, and tools of the trade to shed light on the hidden world of espionage and the impact it had on Michael's family.
Designing a Transformative Book
During a workshop, Michael met a designer named Annette Kavalczyk who agreed to design his book. After experiencing multiple rejections from publishers, Michael contacted Blow Up Press in Warsaw, Poland. Although not selected for their book competition, Michael met with the publishers and secured a deal to have them publish his book, 'The Need to Know.' The process of creating the book involved researching spy tools, photographing in Germany, and incorporating personal images from his father's time as a spy. With a print run of 800 copies, Michael's book serves as a legacy and a personal exploration of his family history.
The Evolution of Self-Portraiture
Michael discusses his journey with self-portraiture, influenced by workshops and a desire to explore personal identity. His earlier self-portraits were more lighthearted, while later ones took on a more serious tone, delving into themes of age and the challenges faced as a gay man. The experience of sharing personal stories and contemplating secrecy in the cold war era alongside his own personal experiences provided Michael with a deeper understanding of the connection between his self-portraiture and his father's life as a spy.
The Value of Sharing Work
Throughout the podcast episode, Michael emphasizes the importance of putting one's work out into the world. Through contests, portfolio reviews, and connecting with others who appreciate and understand their work, photographers can build relationships and find audiences who resonate with their images. Michael highlights the significance of sharing his work in book form, recognizing that it reaches a wider audience than a traditional gallery exhibition. Despite the challenges, he encourages photographers to embrace opportunities to put their work out there and engage with those who appreciate their unique vision.
Michael Honegger is a visual artist born in Germany with a B.A. in History & Spanish from Duke University, a M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and a Professional Certificate in Visual Arts from Maine Media College. His practice as a fine art and documentary photographer explores the performative nature of self-portraiture, the complexities of memory and family, and an investigation of the ironies of American culture with an expatriate’s eye. He has exhibited his work in numerous juried group shows throughout the United States and Europe, including the Center for Fine Art Photography, Photo Place Gallery, A.Smith Gallery, the Southeast Center for Photography, and P.H. 21 Gallery, among others. His documentary project on the refugee crisis on the island of Lesvos, Greece in 2015 was widely published in major European newspapers and by Amnesty International in their initial press release on the crisis. The Economist, The Guardian, and Lenscratch have also published his images. He currently resides in Nice, France, and has lived in France for the past 14 years. His most recent book is titled, The Need to Know. Resources Michael Honegger Websites Sponsors Nikon Z8 Camera Website Charcoal Book Club Frames Magazine Education Resources: Momenta Photographic Workshops Candid Frame Resources Download the free Candid Frame app for your favorite smart device. Click here to download it for . Click here to download Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing to our Patreon effort. You can do this by visiting or the website and clicking on the Patreon button. You can also provide a one-time donation via . You can follow Ibarionex on and .
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