Paper short abstract:

Local photographic studio (Moravia) produced number of photographs in 1920-1956. Production and biography of photographer reflect common regularities in interregional comparison. Paper follows role of studio in creating of local historical consciousness.

Paper long abstract:

Antonin Koukal led his studio in a small Eastern Moravia´ locality (CZ) in the period of 1920 - 1956. His biography and also his work, as well, reflect some common regularities in interregional and even in international comparison: disabled ex-serviceman and originally not educated in photography; his work was more good handicraft then art. He focused on turning points of human life, as other dozens og local studio´s photographers did: confirmation, recruitment, wedding, funeral, and besides it, portraits of family generations. But he paid special attention to an individual portrait, partly in civil dress, partly in national costume, that is considered to be one of the basic sign of local specificity.

Using old research methods like field research and interview, and combining the ethnological and folkloristical point of view, I followed how the local community likes its own portrait built by the photographer´s production, what are opinions concerning the past life and life cycle, how strong still are vertical and horizontal nets connecting local inhabitants and what are inside and outside effects of photographs in the local community life.