GoSee premium member René Staud was invited as a guest keynote speaker at "Foto-Convention Horizonte" in Zingst. GoSee was on location and very impressed. The following is a quick summary of the main facts. For detailed information, René and his team will certainly be available to speak with you in person. The keynote speech was accompanied by countless photo examples as well as several films. We have a selection for you on GoSee. Special attention should be paid to the film 'Evolution', it was produced in-house by students and documents the changes that occurred over the years in the field of automotive photography.
Down to the facts: From the initial concept up to the final results, the complete production process was handled by Staud studios with planning, organization, CGI, photography, film, and post production – for one-stop full service. Leonberg… René Staud and his team confidently view this small town as the axis between east (Shanghai, Beijing, Moscow) and west (Los Angeles, New York, Barcelona).
The studio was founded in 1973 by René Staud, and the studio in Leonberg was opened in 1986. Today the studio measures 1,261 m2 with a building space of 7,972 m3. It was completely renovated in 2006, and the number of employees in 2004 was 42.
Transportation photography has seen many changes since the studio was founded – thanks to new techniques and requirements. René Staud explains: "From the studio photography of the 80s, transportation photography has gone out into the world so that around 1996 we started to produce on location. The next change came with the digital revolution in 2002; from then on, picture worlds were in demand. And today we have a new challenge: Since 2007, the focus has been on storytelling."
What role does CGI play at Staud studios? René tells us in his presentation: "On the fine line between realistic and almost realistic images, CGI has an enormous impact which gives us completely new creative potential. The result of which should always be a picture, but one that impresses us. Not only because of its technological finesse, but because we can feel it. We understand CGI as the extended arm of our imagination. Whenever an object doesn't fit into a studio, or doesn’t even exist – CGI gives us above all one thing: more freedom."
René continues to explain: "CGI is used mostly to photograph things without producing them. Whenever we decline optional extras, create prototypes or want to compose complete picture worlds. We have therefore integrated CGI as a steady parameter. It provides our customers with the reliability of our lighting experts and perspectives experts. Because otherwise CGI is nothing more than a computer game".
He also gives us a clear statement on the topic of post production: "It is post production that puts the "high" in high-end. And perfection requires post production. That in turn requires a dialog with the photographer, so the path from introduction to implementation is one flow. Having our own post production means that we can set our own quality standards – and we don't have to settle with second-best, but only the best. It means we can optimize the workflow and control the results. It means that we don’t leave anything to chance - retouching, composing and looks are guaranteed by our own experts.
It also enables us to transfer our high-quality standards in automotive photography to other areas. To this end, post artists and photographers work closely together – under the same roof, on the same project. And, wherever it makes sense, during production on location too. Because we do not see post production as the final step, but as the most important step to turn a merely good picture into a perfect picture. "
ROLLS-ROYCE, ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH, PORSCHE DNA, MERCEDES – AMG G63, ASTON MARTIN, MASERATI … We would love to show you here on GoSee the best-of transportation by RENÉ STAUD STUDIOS.
