5 A Day #6 - The Windows of Auschwitz

My first trip to Auschwitz was in 1977. I was 16. I had been ingrained with stories of the holocaust since both my brother and I were fascinated and slightly frightened by the subject. I looked at books and saw films about it. Much of my family was exterminated during the war. My mother got out with her parents, from Vienna Austria, with one of last exit visas, on one of the last boats, in February 1940. And in 1977 on a trip to Poland to see where my grandmother came from my parents took myself, my brother and sister to Auschwitz.  At that time I was fascinated. I finally got to see the most infamous of the concentration camps. I didn't know that there were 2 camps one a converted army training camp, Auschwitz I" was the original and the other "Auschwitz II - Birkenau" was built about 3 km down the road by the Nazi's as a manufacturing facility for the final solution. It's raw material was people and it's final product incineration. It was built as an efficient killing machine with volume throughput capacities of over 20,000 bodies per day. It was efficient. There were plans drawn up, architectural models built and the final solution was constructed. From the main guard tower, in Birkenau, as far as the eye can see to the left and the right were barracks that housed the prisoners.

On my first visit I took photos of everything I could. There was also an anger that welled up inside of me against the atrocities and Nazis. In 1999 I went back and it was a more somber experience. I could hardly take a photo. On my last trip in 2008 I went with my family and my parents to show my children the camp. This time as I went around in the barracks I noticed the windows looking out onto a scene juxtaposed by electrified fences, barbed wire and beyond trees, blue skies and freedom. I put myself in the tattered shoes of the prisoners. How it must have felt to see this sight. What it was like to know that just a few short feet away was freedom, yet the obstacles to overcome were enormous and compounded by a weakened body. What was it like to look out and see this scene?  I can only imagine and that will never even begin to live up to the reality.

One image is through the peep hole of a solitary confinement cell with a small window looking out and a toilet in the corner. Who knows how many people were packed into it at one time. The last image is the only one from Auschwitz II Birkenau, it's from the guards perspective, the view from the main tower which each train passed under. I imagine the guards peering out, overseeing the trains as they brought in the days cargo for slaughter.

The perspective changes each time I go. We'll see what comes up for me on the next trip.

All images are for sale. They are printed to archival standards using 100% rag papers and archival pigment inks. Images are limited to editions of 25 for 13 x 19 and 15 for 17 x 22.

You can see more of my work on my website - www.ricomandel.com

	Freedom is Just Over the Fence
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	The Obstacle Course
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	Looking Up From Solitary
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	Obstacle Course II
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	Tracks of Death
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5 A Day - Shadows Tate Modern

I couple of years ago I found myself at the Tate Modern in London. It was my first visit and I was there with my family. The museum is a wonderful space.  We were on our way out, but first the bathroom break as well as a stint in the gift shop kept everyone occupied. I was left alone in this grand lobby.  I sat and watched the people entering and exiting from the building as I waited. It was hypnotizing. I began to notice the shadows they cast and what they were doing. Then it struck me to start shooting. I had to capture some of these images.  I was more interested in the shapes rather than the actual people. In doing so I was able to let my imagination run wild as I made up stories for some while I was shooting. like playing with shadow puppets. Some people looked as if they were caught in a tractor beam, while others looked as if they were in a walking race. The shadows they cast added to the fantasy changing the shapes of their bodies or bringing me back to the story of Peter Pan. I'm not one to shoot many silhouettes, but in this case I couldn't help myself. It was one of those instances that was calling to me, it made perfect sense as I could not see it any other way.

All images are for sale. They are printed to archival standards using 100% rag papers and archival pigment inks. Images are limited to editions of 25 for 13 x 19 and 15 for 17 x 22.

You can see more of my work on my website - www.ricomandel.com
Click on images to enlarge.

	The Light Will Guide You 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Semaphore 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	On-Looker 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Chess Pieces 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Waiting 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00

5 A Day #4 - The Hollyhock House

When I was a child my mother used to take me to Barnsdall Park on Saturday Mornings for a film making class for kids. I looked forward to it every Saturday. I let my imagination run wild as I made a new movie each weekend. Also at Barnsdall Park is the Hollyhock House, built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1921 for Aline Barnsdall. I remember climbing on the concrete walls and using it as a backdrop for some of my movies.

A couple of years ago I was in Hollywood with my Daughter Gabrielle and thought it would be cool to show her where her father took classes when he was a kid. She and I walked around and I showed her my old stomping grounds along with the Hollyhock House.

The Hollyhock House was an icon of my childhood.  I love the angularity of the home that combines the rough-hewn texture of concrete with some arts and crafts style details mixed in. After 30 years I saw it from a brand new perspective.  I was intrigued by the shapes of the house, geometric details and aztec like influences of the house. This group of images is a study of some of the interesting details from the back of the house.

All images are for sale. They are printed to archival standards using 100% rag papers and archival pigment inks. Images are limited to editions of 25 for 13 x 19 and 15 for 17 x 22.

You can see more of my work on my website - www.ricomandel.com
Click on images to enlarge.

	Hollyhock House 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Hollyhock Back Tower 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Hollyhock Corner 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Hollyhock Geometric Window 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00
	Hollyhock Back Door 13 x 19 $250.00 17 x 22 $400.00