Raoul Manuel Schnell
The world of the arts dominated Raoul Manuel Schnell’s life early on owing to his upbringing. Considering this background it was no surprise that he attended the College of Art and Design in Lugano, Switzerland where he found his calling when he set foot into a darkroom for the first time. Though he completed his studies in Interior Design his only goal from then on was to become a photographer.
Raoul Manuel Schnell specialized in still life and ran a studio with extensive custom made lighting installations in order to perfectly effectuate the play of light and shadow in a picture. He photographed the most challenging objects but then, after more than 20 years spent in a black studio it was time for a fresh start.
In 2004 his career changed radically as he moved to Canada. Instead of fully resuming his work in advertisement he began to focus on the artistic side in photography. After being used to work in colour for so long, he now found beauty in black and white photography. He rediscovered his love for food as subject matter and found a new one: people. But some things never change. Raoul Manuel Schnell’s focus on light was and still is a central part of his images but now he abandoned the studio with its elaborate technologies and uses natural light whenever possible.
His predator-like approach to form and human feature as psychological mirror marks his very own style, easily identifiable throughout his work.
Clients
Europe – Zeit magazin, Vogue Germany, Miss Vogue, Maenner Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Elle Deco, Madame, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, PM magazin, Parents, Gulliver Travel, Italy, Schauspielhaus Bochum
Reportages photography for Gulliver Travel, Italy, in Berlin, Munich, Kopenhagen, Rom, Verona and Paris
Lancôme, Lancaster, Estée Lauder, Maria Galland, Clarins, BMW, Siemens, Bosch, Grundig, Telekom, Osram, Bitburger, Moet Chandon, MacDonald, Tschibo Kaffe, Ritter Sport, DeBeers, Wellendorf
Canada – Saputo, SAQ, Bell, Tourisme Montréal, Plaisir de Vivre, Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia, Ironworks, Lunenburg Academy Of Music Performance
Awards
2016 – Winner, Photography, Communication Arts, Book Cover ‘ retroActive ‘, USA
2006 – First Place, ‘ Truffles, Culinary Diamonds ‘, Best Cookbook, Oslo, Norway
2006 – Award, Best Brochure, American Showcase, New York, USA
2006 – First Place, Concour Grafica, Corporate Identity, Montréal, Canada
2005 – Nomination for Best Cookbook/ Artwork, Prix Lux, Montréal, Canada
2004 – First Place, Photography, Gran Prix Lux, Montréal, Canada
2000 – Award of Excellence, Photography, Design Annual, Germany
1999 – Berliner Type ’99, Germany
1987 – Best Cover of the Year ( Zeit magazin ), Germany
Books
2015 – ‘ John Greer, retroActive ‘, published by the Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia ‘, Canada
2004 – ‘ Trüffel, Diamanten der Küche ‘ ( Truffles, Culinary Diamonds ), Feierabend Verlag, Germany
2003 – ‘ Kochen mit Kristallsalz ‘ ( Cooking with Cristall Salt ), INA Verlag, Switzerland
1998 – ‘ Porzellan, Alchemie und Kunst ‘ ( Porcellain, Alchemie and Art ), Nymphenburger Verlag, Germany
1998 – ‘ Truffles ‘, Taschen Verlag, Germany
1998 – ‘ Wies’n Schmankerl ‘, Taschen Verlag, Germany
1989 – ‘ Fische und Meeresfrüchte ‘, Mosaik Verlag, Germany
1976 – ‘ K. F. Dahmen, Objekte, Bilder, Landschaften ‘ ( Art Objects, Paintings, Landscapes ), Belser Verlag, Germany