Artistic Photography: Ice - Streamlines - Liechtenstein 2019 - 130 Rappen

Three special stamps with detailed motifs depicting ice scenes are the latest addition to the “Artistic Photography” stamp series. Photographer Sepp Köppel took the macro photos “Ice Flow” (face value: CHF 1.00), “Stone Islands” (face value: CHF 1.10) and “Streamlines” (face value: CHF 1.30) on the River Rhine. The finishing process applied to produce the stamps included high-relief embossing and thermography to depict the stones ground in the river. This process gives the stamps a very special feel due to their rough surface. The history of the Rhine Valley where Liechtenstein is located is closely linked to that of the River Rhine as it forms a natural border with Switzerland. It also serves as a local recreational area for the inhabitants of the valley and offers photographers fantastic views at any time of year. As a passionate photographer, Sepp Köppel is fascinated by water. In a newspaper interview about one of his exhibitions, he explained: “Water is incredibly photogenic. Whether in a liquid or frozen state, there is no other medium that serves as such a good motif”. Sepp Köppel doesn't manipulate or process his photographs, he merely defines the section of the image on the computer. By selecting a particular section, his images show the viewer details that he or she would scarcely notice with the naked eye.