“Nothing is inhuman. No object can be devoid of humanity,” says Canon Ambassador Eberhard Schuy, whose still life photography is almost mystical in that he realises his vision almost completely without post-production intervention. It is a rare skill indeed to find a life essence in the inanimate, but Eberhard’s near-infinite attention to detail connects him with his subject, extract its inner personality and translates this using traditional methods such as props and filters.
“People rarely play a special role in my photography, and I have often asked myself why. It has to do with a special kind of reticence that used to make it impossible for me to communicate with people. It was not until I was about 28 years old that I was able to get rid of this with special training. I don't disagree if you describe me as reflective, subtle and with a quiet sense of humour. I am aware that I am an introvert and extremely fascinated by many things around me, and I find it an advantage to have the gift of silent observation, perceiving and learning. Sometimes this is exactly how an image is formed. When I was not speaking, I used the time to observe very intensely, seeing the human and the not-so-obvious with a deep sensitivity. This is also how I discovered the personalities that can be found in designed objects, which are hardly noticed in everyday life.