The fair was held at Messe Basel from September 24-26, 2021, and attracted a total of 60,000 visitors during the VIP and public days. 272 first-class galleries from 33 countries presented outstanding works from all media, from rare and historic masterpieces to new works by today's emerging artists - making the fair the most important temporary museum. From all over the world, art collectors, artists and many celebrities meet here.
ColorEdge Reference
Photoservice Team - Art Basel
The Art Basel shows art of the 20th and 21st century and is undisputed as the most important world fair of the international art market.
During Art Basel, the Photoservice team of Andreas Zimmermann, Sabrina Stäubli and Peter Hauck is concerned with putting these valuable art objects in the right light for gallery owners, the exhibition management and the archive. For about seven years, the trio of photographers has relied on EIZO ColorEdge monitors, this year on the ColorEdge CG2420. That's because true-color images of these sometimes photo-sophisticated works of art are a must.
Andreas Zimmermann from the photo service team explains what working for Art Basel entails
What exactly does the photo service team do at Art Basel?
At the request of the gallery owners, we photograph their stands, the exhibited works and make reproductions of images in the photo studio. On the one hand, the galleries need these photos right at Art itself, for example of individual works for their customers, but also for their yearbooks and archives.
The second task we do on behalf of Art Basel is the documentation of the fair itself. To do this, we photograph the stands and their arrangement. This will give us reference images for next year of how everything looked, where what was placed, how big the booths of the individual galleries were.
How is your team organized?
The photo service team consists of two freelance photographers and one female photographer, as well as our communications specialist, who acts as a hub and point of contact for all inquiries from the galleries. We are supported by other freelance photographers and interns. During Art Basel, we are fully committed and busy with nothing else, and that starts a few days before the official start of the exhibition.
Has your work changed in the last 6 years?
Each year more and more gallery owners make use of our services. In addition, there are commissions and projects for the exhibitions surrounding the Art. As a result, our commissions are also different every year - each of which brings another exciting dimension to our work.
What does an EIZO monitor contribute to your work?
In my opinion, EIZO is an indispensable part of professional photography. Because not only the photographer must be a professional, the equipment must also meet the highest standards.
With an EIZO ColorEdge monitor, perfect color management is always guaranteed. The monitor offers a neutral white and extremely fine color gradations. For reproductions in the art field, this is extremely important. Because gallery owners are very demanding. They know their works inside out and want them reproduced as faithfully as possible. With EIZO monitors, we have this assurance and the gallery owners know they can trust us.
The photo service team introduces itself
Andreas Zimmermann
Andreas Zimmermann, how is the photoservice team Art Basel composed and since when are you active?
The photoservice team is composed of the photographers Peter Hauck, Sabrina Stäubli and me. Sandra Amport takes care of the coordination of the orders and communication. In this team, we now work since the year 2013 for Art Basel.
Why did you become a photographer?
For me it was clear from a young age that I would like to move professionally in the creative-design field. Photography began to fascinate me especially in the basic training of the design school Lucerne.
What inspires you?
Mostly the moment and the unpredictable.
What awards are you most proud of?
I was one of the nominees in the "Advertising" category of the Swiss Photo Awards 2010.
Name one thing that would have helped you a lot, had you known about it at the beginning of your career?
Difficult question - on the contrary, it was good not to already know certain things that self-employment entails.
To what extent is color management important for your work?
Color management is very important for my work and my digital workflow. It is especially important for all assignments during Art Basel, as the highest level of professionalism and color as well as contrast accuracy is expected.
Why did you choose an EIZO monitor?
EIZO is the measure of all things for me in this area. For me as a professional, RAW image conversion is of great importance in addition to shooting. The EIZO monitor is, so to speak, the bridge between the "latent" RAW file and the digital-visible final image.
What do you like most about the EIZO monitor? How is it important for your work?
I no longer want to have to do without the hardware-calibrated monitors. The colour accuracy, the large colour space coverage and the stable image brightness, among other things, further distinguish the monitors.
Peter Hauck
Peter Hauck, why did you become a photographer?
I actually wanted to become a cameraman, but first had to learn the photography profession for that. I am currently learning the cameraman autodidactically.
In what field do you work and why?
I'm a lot in event photography, like to work with people. The next highlight is the tennis tournament Swiss Indoors. There I photograph for the organizer. Reportage and architectural photography are also part of it.
Lately, time-lapse films have also joined my field of work.
Do you need special equipment for this kind of photography?
I'm Nikon equipped and well set up with it.
Which of your works is your favorite and why?
The studio work about a small collection of antique animal miniatures. I had to work out the set and settings first and test everything out.
Are there any highlights / challenges in your career worth mentioning?
The 6-week assist time on a production in Cairo for an exhibition catalog about the treasures of Tutankhamun, which were then exhibited in Basel.
To what extent is color management important to your work?
The accurate representation of the image. I have been working with it for several years and own a total of 3 EIZO monitors.
What is your motto?
In order to see clearly, a change of viewing direction is often enough.
What advice would you give a photographer who is at the beginning of his career?
To look around in several studios. Right at the beginning if possible to purchase high-quality equipment. Have a lot of exchange with other photographers. Pursue projects specifically.
Sabrina Stäubli
Sabrina Stäubli, why did you become a photographer?
Photography as a medium offers me the ideal implementation of my creative desires. The play between spatiality and non-spatiality fascinates me again and again.
In which field do you work and why?
The technical photography is always an exciting new challenge for me, because the implementation of the details, surfaces, shapes must be put in the right light for imaging. So I photograph a lot of objects, products or industry. But also portrait photography and reportage photography, which I am often allowed to do, offer me this challenge to tackle the detail of the perfect implementation.
What inspires you?
The non-existent with a dash of humor. I like the contrast of classic studio photography to a world of photography that does not exist so much. Creating images by means of programs that are composed, created, assembled, allows me to show situations that I could never realize with normal photography.
Are there any notable highlights / challenges in your career?
In May 2019, my own first portfolio will be published in book form with 88 pages.
Name one thing that would have helped you a lot had you known about it at the beginning of your career?
Humility is not a virtue in self-employment.
Why did you choose an EIZO monitor?
Because it was time for a color accurate monitor. And it keeps calibrating itself.
What do you like most about the EIZO monitor? How is it important for your work?
It relaxes me. Knowing that I will be prepared for everything in print with the right settings makes working immensely easier. To actually see on the screen what comes out afterwards means an optimized workflow for me.
What advice would you give to a photographer who is at the beginning of his career?
Never underestimate photography, be brave and good planning is half the battle.
