Vilém Heckel
Encyclopedia
Vilém Heckel was a Czech photographer. He devoted himself mainly to landscape photography
, with special focus on the photography of mountains. In 1970, he died at Huascarán, Peru
. Vilém Heckel was one of the founders of the genre of industrial and promotional photography in Czechoslovakia
.
company Indusfoto, but later he became interested in theatre photography and photojournalism
. He changed his place of work to the ateliers of Karel Drbohlav and Illek and Paul. He also spent a part of his early career as a photographer in Zbrojovka Brno
. In 1949 he became a member of the Svaz československých výtvarných umělců (Union of Czechoslovak Visual Artists).
In the 1950s, Heckel began to work as a freelance photographer. In 1956, he published his first book: Naše hory (Our Mountains). At the same time he became familiar with mountaineering
, later he became a professional mountaineer. In 1955 he attended the workshop in High Tatras
, where he has made his first photo cycle with mountain themes. The membership in the Union of Czechoslovak Visual Artists enabled him to participate many mountain expeditions and visit countries inaccessible for Czechoslovak citizens. As a member of expeditions, Heckel visited Kavkaz, Afghanistan
and Pakistan
. Gradually he became known in the community of mountaineers as a photographer with excellent skills in the extreme conditions of mountain climbing.
In 1970, a group of mountain climbers together with Heckel planned to visit Alaska
. Their intention was thwarted by the Czechoslovak communist regime
. Following the Prague Spring
in 1968, it was almost impossible to travel to Western countries. The group changed their plan and decided to climb the peaks in the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca
. Heckel and several of his colleagues planned to leave the expedition and focus more on studying and documenting of Peruvian culture. However, after the death of one of the leaders of the expedition, climber Ivan Bortel, they were forced to stay in the camp with the rest of the expedition. On 1 June 1970, Heckel and his colleagues intended to separate from the rest of the group. Coincidentally, the avalanche
caused by Great Peruvian Earthquake buried their camp under Huascarán
on 31 May 1970, the day before their departure. All of the members of the expedition died.
Although he was initially an industrial photographer, today he is considered mainly as a photographer of mountains.
The annual Czech photographic competition and exhibit on the subject of man, nature and the environment is named after him Vilém Heckel Peaks, as is Heckelova Street in Prague.
Landscape photography
Landscape photography is a genre intended to show different spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. This popular style of photography is practiced by professionals and amateurs alike. Photographs typically capture the presence of nature and are often free...
, with special focus on the photography of mountains. In 1970, he died at Huascarán, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Vilém Heckel was one of the founders of the genre of industrial and promotional photography in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
Biography
Heckel studied to be a photographer in the portrait atelier of Josef Chmelík in Plzeň, his home city. His artistic beginnings were focused on industrial photography. From 1937 to 1939, he was an employee of the PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
company Indusfoto, but later he became interested in theatre photography and photojournalism
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism...
. He changed his place of work to the ateliers of Karel Drbohlav and Illek and Paul. He also spent a part of his early career as a photographer in Zbrojovka Brno
Zbrojovka Brno
Zbrojovka Brno was a firearm and vehicle manufacturer in Brno, Czech Republic. They also made other products and tools- History :The firm was established in 1918.The Czech-Slovak investment group J&T bought an areal of Zbrojovka Brno in 2007.-Firearms:...
. In 1949 he became a member of the Svaz československých výtvarných umělců (Union of Czechoslovak Visual Artists).
In the 1950s, Heckel began to work as a freelance photographer. In 1956, he published his first book: Naše hory (Our Mountains). At the same time he became familiar with mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, later he became a professional mountaineer. In 1955 he attended the workshop in High Tatras
High Tatras
High Tatras or High Tatra are a mountain range on the borders between Slovakia and Poland. They are a part of the Tatra Mountains...
, where he has made his first photo cycle with mountain themes. The membership in the Union of Czechoslovak Visual Artists enabled him to participate many mountain expeditions and visit countries inaccessible for Czechoslovak citizens. As a member of expeditions, Heckel visited Kavkaz, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Gradually he became known in the community of mountaineers as a photographer with excellent skills in the extreme conditions of mountain climbing.
In 1970, a group of mountain climbers together with Heckel planned to visit Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Their intention was thwarted by the Czechoslovak communist regime
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
. Following the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
in 1968, it was almost impossible to travel to Western countries. The group changed their plan and decided to climb the peaks in the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca
Cordillera Blanca
The Cordillera Blanca is a mountain range in the Ancash Region of Peru. Part of the larger Andes range, it includes 33 major peaks over high in an area wide and long.-Overview:...
. Heckel and several of his colleagues planned to leave the expedition and focus more on studying and documenting of Peruvian culture. However, after the death of one of the leaders of the expedition, climber Ivan Bortel, they were forced to stay in the camp with the rest of the expedition. On 1 June 1970, Heckel and his colleagues intended to separate from the rest of the group. Coincidentally, the avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
caused by Great Peruvian Earthquake buried their camp under Huascarán
Huascarán
Huascarán or Nevado Huascarán is a mountain in the Peruvian province of Yungay, situated in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Western Andes. The highest southern summit of Huascarán is the highest point in Peru, and all the Earth's Tropics...
on 31 May 1970, the day before their departure. All of the members of the expedition died.
Work
Vilém Heckel is important in the history of Czech photography, particularly because of his portraits of the Czech landscape. He mainly photographed the nature and mountains, but later he focused also on urban photography. In his photo cycles he managed to depict an original picture of Czech landscape, its spirit and uniqueness. His works often include human elements; he attempted to picture not only the mountains, but also his fellows in the danger of mountain climbing sport.Although he was initially an industrial photographer, today he is considered mainly as a photographer of mountains.
The annual Czech photographic competition and exhibit on the subject of man, nature and the environment is named after him Vilém Heckel Peaks, as is Heckelova Street in Prague.