A Reason to Travel

To view larger versions of the photos in this post, please click on the images in the gallery above.

Feature Image © Neil Miller

Not that anyone needs a special reason to travel, but it is always a good idea to find a point of interest that brings you into contact with the local population. My travels usually involve little planning. My goal is to find the unexpected (at least street-photography-wise), but an underlining thread can lead to something not anticipated.

Lucerne, Switzerland © Neil Miller

On a recent trip to Switzerland, I selected Lucerne as a destination because Camera, a magazine I had subscribed to many years ago, was published in Lucerne, Switzerland.

I was a subscriber during the 1970s while in graduate school and was fortunate to have had a photograph published in it during that time. I considered it the premier photography magazine of that period. The initial research I did before we left for Lucerne, led to the discovery that the magazine’s first issue came out in June 1922 and the last issue was in December 1981. Wikipedia covers the history of Camera very well. I wanted to see what else I could discover about its publication while my wife Marilyn and I were visiting Lucerne. We arrived in Lucerne by train from Basel. We had 11 days there, so seeing the city and photographing came first.

Capturing the Streets of Lucerne © Neil Miller

Photographing Lucerne © Neil Miller

In Search of Camera

After we became familiar with the area, I started my investigation into Camera. A visit to the main photo shop in Lucerne was in order.

Main Photo Shop © Neil Miller

The gentleman I talked to at the counter was enlightening. “Never heard of the magazine.” He suggested I look up a local photographer who had been practicing for the past 40 years. An interesting bus ride to the outskirts of Lucerne brought us to his address. As we approached the building, a man relaxing with a cigarette said, “Exhibition opens next week.” Sounded like we were in the correct part of town, but we would miss the exhibition.  We found the studio, but as luck would have it the door was locked.

Well, to keep our travels interesting we visited several museums. It turned out the Kunstmuseum had a display case with some issues of Camera magazine including an article from the Luzerner News of December 5, 1972 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the magazine. It looked like Camera had settled into the archives of history. Not surprising but it made me feel my age. To look further, we visited the local public library. Staff there said that magazines in general were destroyed after a period of time and that they had no knowledge of Camera. I was referred to the Central and University Library indicating that they may have the magazine in their archives.

Kunstmuseum Display Case © Neil Miller

Article Celebrating Camera’s 50th Anniversary © Neil Miller

A little time went by as we continued our travels with a tour to Jungfraujoch known as “Top of Europe” and a train ride to Locarno in the south of Switzerland. Back in Lucerne, the Central and University Library was my next destination. The entrance area was a favorite lunch spot with locals enjoying the fantastic weather.

Jungfraujoch known as the “Top of Europe” © Neil Miller

Locarno © Neil Miller

Upon entering, there was a strange robotic greeter willing to help on a computer pad. It was more of a novelty to me since it was all in German. It turned out the library staff, although not aware of Camera magazine, found that another branch had archives of the magazine. The nice part was with some help (same problem, the computers were in German) I was able to get a library card. All I had to do then was to select the volumes of Camera I wanted to see.  The two-part process required a request today and have the material delivered the next day for you to research.

The Library’s Special Greeter © Neil Miller

Helpful Library Staff © Neil Miller

Search Screen in German © Neil Miller

Discoveries and Goals Accomplished
It was a Friday when the four requested volumes arrived. An email notified me of their arrival. A very nice young lady gave me a space in the archives room to look through the volumes. It turns out the earlier issues were more technical in nature. Also, the results of recent photography salons made up a selection of good-quality reproductions in the issues. All issues from 1922 to 1981 were in German. An English and French edition was added from 1957 to 1981. For about two hours I skimmed through volumes from 1933, 1961, 1970, and 1980. It was like finding a treasure to look through the volumes selected.

The Archives Room © Neil Miller

Early Issues of Camera © Neil Miller

Of the many wonderful images, some that stood out in the 1933 volume include photography by Foreman Hanna – Globe, Arizona, Edith Zistig – Munchen (Munich), Germany, and Denes Ronay – Budapest, Hungary. The 1961 edition had a photojournalistic direction including a sequence of photographs titled “Lovers in Paris” and coverage of a photographic auction in the Life magazine style. The 1970 and 1980 editions brought back memories of the time I looked to Camera as a reflection on my efforts in the art of photography. I knew a few of the photographers included in the issues I reviewed, but it was the ones I did not know that interested me most.

Original Image  by Foreman Hanna – Globe, Arizona © Neil Miller

Original Image by Edith Zistig – Munich, Germany © Neil Miller

Original Image by Denes Ronay – Budapest, Hungary © Neil Miller

Lovers in Paris from 1961 Issue © Neil Miller

Coverage of a Photo Auction © Neil Miller

It turns out that the August 1974 issue I was included in was devoted to young aspiring photographers. I wonder what paths others included in that issue have taken. Although my experience looking into Camera magazine was limited, it did accomplish the goal I set of participating in the community and meeting people. It was a meaningful addition to our other travel activities.

Cover of the August 1974 Issue of Camera © Neil Miller

My Photography in August 1974 Camera  © Neil Miller

[Editor’s note:  Thank you Neil.  Thanks for being our President and we are happy you made the trip and honored that you shared your adventure.]