Josef Schulz, a Poland-born and Germany-based photographer, has a new series of images that explores the now defunct border crossings stations of Europe. The abandoned booths, usually rather small, are an interesting view on life before the European Union and remain a symbol of forgotten or discarded political power.
The series, almost documentary in nature, features the former checkpoints in all of their dilapidated glory, and are often, non-surprisingly, located in destitute regions surrounded by scenic landscapes. The similarities between each of the photos make it almost impossible to recognize which countries they border, an interesting addition that adds to the theme of boundaries now defunct.
Other photo collections by Josef Schulz tend to have the same indistinguishable background that make the subject of the image that much more captivating.
What's Driving This Trend
- Border-crossing Nostalgia
- Josef Schulz's 'Transition' series highlights the nostalgia for life before the European Union and the potential for repurposing old border-checkpoints
- Abandonment Tourism
- The abandoned border-checkpoints featured in the 'Transition' series provide opportunities for photographers, travellers, and adventure-seekers to explore these once highly-political spaces.
- Visual Homogenization
- The use of similar compositions and backgrounds across collections, as seen in Josef Schulz's photography, highlights the potential for homogenization of visual content.
Who This Affects Most
- Tourism
- Abandoned border checkpoints offer a unique and potentially lucrative attraction for tourism industries.
- Heritage Conservation
- The border-crossing images in the 'Transition' series highlight the importance of preserving historical structures and landmarks for future generations.
- Photography and Art
- Josef Schulz's 'Transition' series provides inspiration for photographers and artists to transform abandoned spaces into captivating works of art.
