Clowns International is the oldest established organisation for Clowns in the World. It was founded in 1946 as a social club for all types of performing Clowns. Its aims include the furthering of the art of clowning, maintaining its history and promoting the art of good clowning throughout the world.

A highlight of Clowns International's calendar is the Joseph Grimaldi Memorial Service; annually held on the first Sunday of February at Holy Trinity, the Clowns Church at Beechwood Road in East London.

Astrid had the pleasure of being invited to photograph the clowns throughout the event. Alas, the night before the service it snowed – and many clowns have been prevented to travel to the event due to bad weather conditions. Nonetheless, the few who made it to East London that day where most entertaining and charming characters...

To honour of the memory of Joseph Grimaldi and all the other clowns please click here.

Do you also wonder where has the time has gone? For some of us the year 2011 has been quite a roller-coaster. Nonetheless, I hope you are – like myself – positively excited to explore what 2012 will bring!


With a Christmas Angel by my side (this is Claire from my last photo session in 2011) I grant a wish to everyone who believes in magic!


But for now I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a great time over the Christmas holidays. Let's add some fun whilst having another cup of tea and perhaps a mince pie: find out what happened 'when Santa came to get his picture taken'

Click and enjoy!!!

Astrid has a new announcement about her ‘Hairdressers’ project: the series has been selected to be written about as part of the Brighton Photo Fringe Open '11 texts project. The articles will be part of the Open '11 Library and will be available and online as downloadable pdfs.

The Open ‘11 events program includes artist talks,  workshops, gallery talks, screenings and projects that generate discussion about the broader context of contemporary photography. All events are part of the Brighton Photo Fringe Open '11 taking place at Phoenix Brighton between 19 November – 18 December 2011.

Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm, and late nights every Thursday, until 9pm. All events are free, booking in advance required for some events (full events program and booking details).

Astrid is very proud to announce that four of her images from the series ‘Hairdressers’ have been selected for the LIP members show.

The LIP Annual Exhibition aims to provide a platform for members to exhibit their best work, to be viewed by each other and the general public. This time the selection process was conducted by individual professionals (Bridget Coaker, picture editor at Guardian Newspaper Group & Director of Troika Editions and Mick Williamson, head of photography at London Metropolitan University), who are connected to London's photographic community.

Venue: The Strand Gallery (Proud Central)
32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP
Showtime: 18.10.11 - 29.10.11
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm

The members private view takes place on 18th October 2011 (6.30pm - 9.30pm)

‘Hairdressers’ is inspired by the novel Egalia's Daughters in which the protagonists swapped gender based roles. I am questioning our perception on what is regarded as ‘normal’ and what is ‘abnormal’. The sitters look ridiculous because we do not expect men to go through such treatments, but for women of our society this is perfectly normal. Just wondering: perhaps it’s time for men to get emancipated?

More images from this series can be seen at Astrid’s web portfolio

Kate, Jess and Astrid are proudly inviting to a Photographic Portraiture Exhibition @ The Underground Gallery,
The Strand, Charing Cross Underground Station Exit 9, London WC2N 4HZ
Gallery opening times: Mo - Sat, 12pm - 6pm

The exhibition is going to be packed with talks and special events. Please put into your diary:

Opening party: Tuesday, 18 October 2011, 6pm – 8.30pm
Evening talk: Confidence and Style: Learn how to deal with changes to your appearance and boost self-confidence during cancer treatment (speaker: Kate Nightingale), Wednesday, 19 October , 6pm – 8.30pm
Afternoon talk: 'Emotional support for patients and their next of kin'. Kate and Jessica share their journey of breast cancer and give their thoughts as to how to keep emotionally strong (guest speaker: Sharon Haliday, Macmillan Cancer Support), Thursday, 20 October , 2pm – 4.30pm
Free photo-session for people affected by breast cancer: get your picture taken by photographer Astrid Schulz, Saturday, 22 October, 12pm – 6pm

Kate’s comment on her images:
'Kate’s Journal’ is a series of portraits that tells my recent journey through breast cancer treatment with a sensitive combination of honesty and subtlety. Astrid has captured my story with great compassion without using any imagery of inherent shock value, in other words, without direct reference to my illness. In this way the viewer senses rather than sees its impact. This is going to be a compelling exhibition with the intention of leaving others empowered and giving a sense of hope to those who undergo life-changing illnesses.

More background information about 'Kate's Journal' can be found by clicking here

Some weeks ago I was commissioned to take portraits for the band members of 'RUN' plus pictures for their album cover. I must say, these 4 women are so brilliant and unique that I decided to support their upcoming album launch. The songs on this album are exclusively sung in the languages of six Celtic nations, supported by a harp. Truly beautiful. If you wish to get enchanted just like me, please join 'Run' launch event at Camden's music venue 'The Green Note' on 19 September, from 19:00 - 22:30 (plus support band). Booking highly recommended.
The address is: The green Note, 106 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN

Please also visit Run’s website

This is an appeal for help to set up a photography exhibition for the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ in October. We need assistance with marketing & fund-raising.

We, this is myself as the photographer and Kate Sims, breast cancer survivor and the star of my portraiture series, taken during her course of treatment and recovery.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK; 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. We would like to give hope to those affected and raise awareness in collaboration with a charity organization. We are short of £250 for renting a Charing Cross based gallery and for marketing our special events. If you are someone or know of the right person, who is interested in working with us on an extremely rewarding mission, please get in touch and ask for details.

'Kate's Journal' can be viewed here

I am delighted to announce that the project has come to an end – although I am also a bit sad because I enjoyed working on this project tremendously. However, Konnie Daniel, my wonderful friend and excellent hairstylist has now used all her curlers from her collection in various combinations - so this has to be it, I’m afraid.

Special thanks to Dave, Aurelien, Kirk and Martin for their patience and good humour - and also to the London Academy, who kindly allowed us to work in their studio (www.media-courses.com).

The project can be seen at Hairdressers
More information about the series can be found two bogs down.

Again: In Astrid's ‘Hairdresser’ project all characters are fictional. There is very little relationship between the sitter and the suggestions made about them…


The project will be exhibited later in the year. Watch this space...

Tim Andrew’s images are now travelling globally: firstly to the 2nd Guernsey Photography Festival, were Tim’s project ‘Over The Hill’ is on display alongside exhibitions and lectures by renowned international photographers.

Festival opening event: Wednesday, 1 June, 6pm - 8pm, at the Market Square
Exhibition Venue: The Rotunda, Royal Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10.00am - 5.00pm
Special event: Tim Andrews will give a talk on the project on 10th June
Admission: Free


And secondly: as a result of the Impact Art Fair, a small selection of the project has been invited to be on show at a festival in Berlin Lichtenberg: The Long Night of the Pictures (4pm – midnight, 05.06.11). The images are exhibited until Saturday, 16th July.

Venue: Allee-Center (Einkaufszentrum), Landsberger Allee,
13055 Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, Germany

Opening event: Saturday, 2th July, 5pm - 8pm
Opening times: Mon - Sat, 9am - 8pm
Admission: Free


Reminder about the project: following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, Tim Andrews answered a small advert in Time Out Magazine and was photographed in the nude for a portrait project. Filled with a sense of creativity and liberation, Andrews has spent the last three years sitting for portraits by over 130 photographers including Rankin and Harry Borden.

Please also read Tim’s blog about his project 'Over the Hill'

As a teenager Astrid enjoyed reading a novel called Egalia's Daughter (by the Norwegian Gerd Mjøen Brantenberg) in which the protagonists swapped gender based rolls. One particular scene stuck to Astrid’s mind: men were sitting at a beauty salon, with curlers in their hair and beards. Or waxing of their chest hair, having face masks and so forth… They were gossiping, opening their hearts, socializing, or simply observed their transformation - quietly.

Back to the future, Astrid thought this would be an interesting topic to explore. How do men feel and act when confronted with characteristic female beauty treatment?

Nowadays the beauty industry as a close eye on men, trying to turn them into paying customers. Apparently, male grooming is in fashion (according to the advertising industry). I still recall the 80s, when this was really happening. Many men desired to have their hair permed, inspired by stars like Hollywood actor Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch) or Kevin Keegan (when he was young...) or certain bands with big hair, (remember glam rock?). However, men would visit hairdressers rather secretively. The trick is to look ‘natural’ after you are done.

The project can be seen at Hairdressers

Please note: In Astrid's ‘Hairdresser’ project all characters are fictional. There is very little relationship between the sitter and the suggestions made about them…

‘Wanted’, the image of Tim Andrews is back on show, this time as a printed exhibition. Tim, who suffers of Parkinson's disease, had the urge to be photographed by over 130 photographers (including Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, and many more…) since the onset of his illness. By turning himself into an art object, he got featured at the BBC Culture Show and the Guardian Weekend Magazine in February 2011.

A small selection of this project (including ‘Wanted’) is featured at The Impact Art Fair. Impact profiles work from highly talented artists loosely described as ‘marginalised’ or ‘outsider’ such as those who use mental health services, who have physical disabilities or learning difficulties, who have experience of homelessness or substance mis-use, refugees, long-term unemployed, offenders or ex-offenders.

Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ
Opening Times: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 6pm
Private View: Thursday, 19.05.11, 5pm - 7pm

Links and directions to The Impact Art Fait and Candid Arts Trust

On 29 April 2011 the citizens of the UK, it not the whole world, held their breath and followed the most prestigious wedding of this century so far: the Royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. An estimated one million people lined the streets in London to witness the procession. But not everybody managed to get a good view. For those who missed the highlights, feel free to have a look at these wedding images, which were taken inside 22 of London's favourite entertainment places: the 'Public Houses' in the Borough of Westminster…

Please follow the full event on www.astridschulz.com/royal_wedding

Round one is completed: Astrid has started a new series. The theme is 'male grooming', a free interpretation of the return of the gigolo... Long hair is in (apparently) and so are beards. It's fun to dress up again and its OK to be sexy!

Astrid's creative partner is the professional and highly talented hair stylist Konnie Daniel, who is the proud owner of a remarkable collection of curlers. Konnie is usually working on feature films and on TV productions as a make-up and hair designer (her impressive CV includes Killing Bono & 28 Days Later).

Special thanks to Chris, Tom, Boaz and Frey for their patience and good humour - and also to the London Academy, who kindly allowed us to work in their studio (www.media-courses.com).

For the second round Astrid and Konnie need new models. Please come forward, if you are a man with long'ish hair - or if you know of any charming men who would enjoy a cheerful photo session for a possible exhibition (all age-groups wanted!).

PLEASE - DON'T BE SHY - GET IN TOUCH: info@astridschulz.com

‘Status Update’ is a new project by Latitude Photographers, a photo collective from London. Latitude has engaged their Facebook friends to share creative images in response to the festivals theme 'Right Here Right Now’.

The conclusion of this project will be presented as a slide-show at the International Photography Festival FORMAT 11. The work is envisaged as being a large screen projection within a gallery space – ‘updating the status’ from a Facebook exchange to gallery artwork.

Venue: Mob FORMAT HQ, 44 Sadler Gate, Little Chester, Derby DE1 3NQ
Dates: 4th March - 3rd April
Opening times: 10:00 - 17:30

Astrid’s submission is the triptych ‘White Lies Kill’ (shown above), which is taken from a body of work called ‘Death in Arles’. The series is dealing with the break-up of a relationships and it’s consequences – right here, right now.

This group show is in fact a photographic digital installation, instigated by Tim Andrews, who suffers of Parkinson's disease. He had the urge to be seen through the eyes of over 100 photographers since the onset of his illness. The result is a stunning collection of images, full of surprises.

The impressive list of photographers includes Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, Karen Knorr, Steve Bloom, Graeme Montgomery, Alex Sandwell Kliszynski, Michele Turriani and many more…

Astrid’s contribution to this fascinating compilation is the image 'Wanted: Tim Andrews', which is playing with Tim's love for acting, cinema visits and his childhood dream of becoming a cowboy...

Venue: The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking,
Surrey, GU21 4AA (free entry, donations welcome)

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: 10.30am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (Mondays are closed)

Links and directions to The Impact Art Fait and Candid Arts Trust

Please also read Tim’s blog about the project Over The Hill

All festivals have come to an end now, however, in case you missed the previous shows, here is one more opportunity...

As a result of the Brighton Photo Fringe the images from Astrid’s food series have been invited to beautify Taylor St Baristas, one of Brighton’s most famous coffee shops. Its location at 28 Queens Road, the street which leads from the station down to the sea - perfect for a visit.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8am - 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm

If you want to find out more about the images, please click here.

fLIP is an independent magazine, which is published three times per year by the London Independent Photographers (LIP). The magazine is the official voice of LIP, which has over 600 members and it aims to support, inspire and inform its readers by featuring members' photographic work with articles that are engaging and entertaining.

The latest issue, no 17 with the title 'Movement', is featuring an article about Astrid's work 'Food keeps Body & Soul together'. The article was a response from both Astrid's involvement at the LIP members show as well as her 2 recent solo exhibitions.

The magazine is available at various stockists across London, including the Tate Modern Bookshop, National Portrait, Serpentine Gallery Bookshop, Whitechapel Gallery Bookshop and many more. For further information please click here. Alternatively, if you wish to read the article, please visit www.astridschulz.com/fLIP/.

The exhibition 'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together'
is currently part of London PHOTOMONTH festival (October 2010) and at the BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE (November 2010).

After a great opening party at London's Shipton Street Gallery, Astrid is now preparing for the second show at Brighton Media Centre, 15 -17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL

Opening times: 28.10.10 - 14.11.10, Mondays – Fridays, 9.30 – 5.30 & weekends, 10.30 – 5.30

Opening party:
Saturday, 30.10.10, 5.30pm - midnight
The opening event takes place during Brighton's forthcoming ‘White Night Festival', an all-night public artwork event.

This an ongoing series of portraits is bringing together Astrid’s passion for food and her previous career as a costume designer. Before each image concept was developed, most of the sitters were asked about their favourite meals. In other pictures the edible item is telling the viewer something about the sitter’s pastime. The resulting images are humorous, bold and distinctive.

The title of the show is inspired by Astrid’s grandmother Liese-Lotte Buck, who sadly died in 2009. ‘Eat, everybody, food keeps body and soul together!’ - this is what she used to say before a family meal. The exhibitions are held her memory.

In 2004 the series won the London Photographic Bronze Award in the category 'Beauty and Form'.

Click here for an image preview.

Astrid is very proud to announce that three of her images have been selected for the LIP members show.

The LIP Annual Exhibition aims to provide a platform for members to exhibit their best work, to be viewed by each other and the general public. This time the selection process was conducted by individual professionals (Lucinda Chua from The Strand Gallery and Paul Ellis from Photofusion), who are connected to London's photographic community.

Venue: The Strand Gallery (Proud Central)
32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP
Showtime: 19.10.10 - 31.10.10

The Members Private View takes place on 19th October 2010 (6pm - 9.30pm)

The Strand Gallery, a branch of the Proud Galleries, is part of Europe’s most popular private photographic exhibition venues. Its location is just a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square and easily accessible from both Charing Cross and Embankment Stations.

One of the chosen images is from the series ‘Holi’ (seen above). It was taken during the Holi festival in 2010 at the Hare Krishna temple in Hertfortshire, UK. Roopen, the young man in the picture, was one out of many Hindu worshipers, who came into Astrid’s makeshift studio during the festival to have his portrait taken. More images from this series can be seen at Astrid’s web portfolio

Astrid is currently in pre-production with her next exhibitions, which are showcasing portraits from her colourful series 'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together'. The images will go on show twice: as part of London PHOTOMONTH festival (October 2010) and at the BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE (November 2010).

The first show are held at Shipton Street Gallery
Shipton Street, London E2 7RZ
Showtime: 01.10.10 - 24.10.10

Opening party:
Friday, 01.10.10, 6.30pm - 9pm

Food keeps Body & Soul together is an ongoing project, which is bringing together Astrid’s passion for food and her previous career as a costume designer. Before each image concept was developed, most of the sitters were asked about their favourite meals. In other pictures the edible item is telling the viewer something about the sitter’s pastime. The resulting images are humorous, bold and distinctive.

The title of the show is inspired by Astrid’s grandmother Liese-Lotte Buck, who sadly died in 2009. ‘Eat, everybody, food keeps body and soul together!’ - this is what she used to say before a family meal. The exhibitions are held her memory.

Click here for an image preview.

Another image from Astrid’s series ‘Life after Death’(click here for more information) has been selected for a group show in Cambridge. Total Image Nation (TIN) is a collective and online resource for photographers across the UK. TIN is holding this inspiring exhibition at Michaelhouse Centre, a unique exhibition space inside St Michael’s Church in the city centre.

Opening party: Thursday, 10.06.10, 7pm - 9pm

Venue: Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1SU

Open: Mondays - Saturdays, 8am - 5pm

Venue information: www.michaelhouse.org.uk
And information about Total Image Nation:
www.total-image-nation.co.uk

A new task is waiting to be explored: the exiting shift from still images into moving images.

Astrid was invited to a road trip from Serbia to Montenegro in order to document the countries current development. Both countries have been through rapid changes in the last 30 years: from Tito’s Yugoslavia and socialism to economical decline under Milosevic; from a brutal cycle of war to separation into 6 republics. Many things have progressed within the last 10 years; economy is slowly recovering and the two countries are looking towards the European Union. They are also trying to get themselves back on the map for sought-after tourist destinations.

With plenty of stills and film material Astrid is now working on a documentary project about this journey. Watch this space for further announcements on the completed movie…

Gallery320 will be presenting it's annual talent showcase MINDSOUP and is inviting artists to bring a piece of work, which will be hung at the gallery as part of an exciting mixed-media group show.
Unlike most Private Views, we are inviting the artist to bring their work on the evening and we will be gradually seeing the exhibition grow before our eyes.

Opening party: Wednesday, 07.04.10, 6.30pm - 9pm

Venue: Gallery320
320 Bethnal Green Road (entrance via Voss Street), Bethnal Green, London E2 0AG

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.gallery320.co.uk


This time Astrid is bringing an image of her series ‘Life after Death’, which was created in memory of her mother in the attempt of understanding her animal collection. View more of these images on Astrid’s LPA portfolio (series no4).

For the third time, London's Viewfinder Photography Gallery is turning its walls over to the public for an exhibition. The Greenwich based gallery will present the opportunity for hundreds of diverse photographs to be shown.

Opening party: Thursday, 25.02.10, 7pm - 9pm

Venue: Viewfinder Photography Gallery
Showcase: 8 College Approach, Greenwich,
London SE10 9HY

Curator Louise Forrester said: "The Open Salons 2006 and 2008 were very exciting. This is a great opportunity for local photographers to show their work, and also for the gallery to raise funds to support future exhibitions."

Astrid’s contribution to the show is an image called 'Shoes of the Witch', which shows a costume item from her previous career as a costume designer. View more images on her LPA portfolio

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.viewfinder.org.uk

Paper Jam is an art exhibition by four different artists. The show is a celebration of the subversive power of drawing, pushing drawing into space and the realm of ideas.

Opening party: Monday, 11.01.10, 6pm - 9pm
Venue: The Gallery, 1st floor, Goldsmiths College, Students’ Union, Dixon Road, New Cross, London SE14 6NW

In conversation: Thursday, 28.01.10, 7pm - 8pm
Join us for a discussion between the featured artists and curator as well as a solo performance by Ana Cavic.

Participating artist:
Sandra Erbacher (curator): www.sandraerbacher.com
Ines Rebelo: www.axisweb.org/seCVPG.aspx?ARTISTID=12673
Ana Cavic & Renee O’Drobinak: www.ladiesofthepress.org
Astrid Schulz:
www.astridschulz.com

Astrid Schulz displays two images of her award winning Car Park series: they show fragments of or imprints left by cars frozen in the total silence of snow and hover at once between romanticism and apocalypse, abstraction and representation. An imprint of the bonnet of a car left in the snow is juxtaposed with a black car door that has been freed from and at the same time is framed by a blanket of snow; the photographs shown imbue seemingly mundane objects with an ethereal, epic quality, while entering into direct dialogue with the process-based nature of drawing using as its starting point and central component the abstract mark left on a ground.

Astrid Schulz would like to invite you on Saturday, 12 December, 3-4pm!

Astrid is organizing a candlelight vigil at her exhibition at Viewfinder Photography Gallery as part of a huge international day of action on climate change. We need a bunch of people to make it work. It’s going to be fun, short and super easy.

Events like this are happening simultaneously in every corner of the world just as our leaders gather in Copenhagen for the most important climate negotiations of our time. The message is: The World Wants A Real Deal - a treaty strong enough to tackle climate change and the destruction of the planet.

Come and join us! Bring a candle and something to share (cookies, cake etc.), Astrid will serve tea. This is also a great opportunity to see Astrid's 'Car Park: under cover' exhibition, if you have not been already...

Check out the event and RSVP here
If you can't make it to this event, check out this map showing events across the world
We hope to see you there to make a difference.

The award winning series ‘Car Park’ is currently exhibited as a solo show for the second time.

Opening party: Friday, 27.11.09, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Viewfinder Photography Gallery
Linear House, Peyton Place,
Greenwich, London SE10 8RS

'Car Park: under cover' is part of Photomonth, the UK's largest photography festival. The exhibition coincides with the ‘United Nations Climate Conference’ in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009.
Astrid Schulz will be present at the gallery during weekends from 12 to 4pm. She is also going to have a talk about the images (Wed 16 Dec, 7-9pm) and is discussing the problems of ‘photographing whiteness’ during a workshop on 6th Dec, 2-5pm (ticket price £5, for booking information please get in touch with Viewfinder Gallery).

About the images: Astrid had a very special experience on New Year’s Eve 2006. A sudden change of weather turned her journey upside down, but also lead to the mesmerizing images in her ‘Car Park’ series. Her images shall remind us in the unpredictability of life. There is an underlining message about the threat of recent climate changes and how little we know about protecting ourselves. Many people are not fully conscious about the meaning of the environmental problems, but in some countries drastic changes have already altered peoples lives often in tragic ways. The images in ‘Car Park’ are a silent reminder to think about the way we take our comfortable lives for granted, but nothing lasts forever…

Click here for Information about the images
Or to view the ‘Featured Gallery’ at London Photographic Association

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.viewfinder.org.uk

Salon 09 is an annual exhibition for members of the Four Corners Photo-Imaging Network (PIN) and features collectable photography from it’s members.

Opening times: Wednesday - Saturday, 1pm - 6pm
Preview: 6.30-8.30pm on Thursday 29th October 2009

Astrid contribution to this exhibition is the image ‘Gluttony’ from the series ‘7 Deadly Sins‘: Imagine a magazine cover, assuming the church wishes to publish a modern glossy magazine, describing all aspects of a sinful life...

This exhibition is part of Photomonth 09, East London’s annual photography festival, with more than 150 exhibitions and events in over 85 venues.

Four Corners’ gallery space has a long and celebrated track record as an exhibition venue.Their exhibition program aims to commission and exhibit up to four significant visual arts projects each year to a local, national and international audience. Four Corners provides a key platform for artists in the early stage of their careers, as well as more established artists, and a focus for East London’s diverse artistic community.

More info: www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk

Astrid has finally completed her latest commission for a book publication by Fitzrovia Press, London. The book ‘Cows and the Earth’ is describing the benefits of vegetarian food for the future of the planet Earth. Vegetable based diets will contribute to minimization of animal cruelty and habitat destruction. The underlining message is back to natural and UK based farming. The book is describing a small farm in the heart of Herefordshire at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple. The farm is running a cow protection centre and, that agricultural land can be farmed by ox power and milk cam be produced without animal cruelty (usually caused by commercial methods like milking machines, indoor captivity or artificial fodder components).
Read MORE of the story...

Image archive for 'Cows and the Earth': www.astridschulz.com/cows

For information on the book please visit www.fitzroviapress.com

A second publication is on the way: a guidebook on the Hare Krishna temple near Watford, north of London, in connection with the International Society For Krishna Consciousness. The book is due for Spring 2010. For updated information watch this space.

For information about the Krishna temple please visit www.krishnatemple.com

A reminder from the past: Astrid Schulz, ex costume designer, proudly presents a joined exhibition with Mary Ellen Lamb, artist and make-up designer.
Astrid and Mary Ellen meet 12 years ago, whilst working on a movie production. They quickly established a bond and are now celebrating their friendship by showcasing their artistic work at London’s famous Leadenhall Market.
Most of Astrid’s personal work is still influenced by the world of film and TV productions. Her photographic portraits are often conceptual fiction and her sitters are encouraged to transform into imaginary characters.
Mary Ellen Lamb studied art at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York before moving to London. She works as a professional make-up artist, but also creates dream landscapes, influenced by her American heritage and pop culture (www.maryellenlamb.com).

Opening party: Wednesday, 22.04.09, 6-8pm

Venue: Brokers Wine Bar & Restaurant, 9 Leadenhall Market, London, EC3V 1LR

How to get there: www.brokerswinebar.co.uk

The award winning series ‘Car Park’ is on show in Hove, Brighton (South East England).

Opening party: Friday, 23.01.09, 7-9pm

Venue: The Space @ Acumen
Acumen Business Group, Audley House
Hove Street, Hove, BN3 2DE

View by appointment: thespace@acumenbusinessgroup.com

On New Year’s Eve in 2006 Astrid had a very special experience. A sudden change of weather turned her journey upside down, but also lead to the mesmerizing images in her ‘Car Park’ series. Her images shall remind us in the unpredictability of life. There is an underlining message about the threat of recent climate changes and how little we know about protecting ourselves. Many people are not fully aware about the meaning of the environmental problems, but in some countries drastic changes have already altered peoples lives in often tragic ways. The images in ‘Car Park’ are a silent reminder to think about the way we take our comfortable lives for granted, but nothing lasts forever…

Image archive link: Featured Gallery at London Photographic Association

A project on French colonial and modernist 1960's architecture brought Astrid to Cambodia. The main focus was on Battambang, Cambodia’s third largest city, which still has a large number of colonial buildings in its centre. However, many are under tread to be modernised or even demolished.
A current building and foreign investment boom has raised awareness to save cultural heritage. Cambodia’s cities and towns are rather sleepy and don’t yet compete with other South - East Asian cities. On the other hand, the facades of local streets are adopting western characteristics such as large billboards, concrete and glass as building materials and rising floor levels.

The German Development Service (DED) is currently supporting the city of Battambang , which is working on a co-operational project on city planning and structural improvements. Inspired by the given information Astrid spend some additional time photographed buildings all over Cambodia and found them to be evidential of recent history.


Impermanent Utopia
(A Cambodian tale of constant change and instability)

What comes to mind when you think of Cambodia? Is it Angkor Wat’s ancient civilization or the Khmer Rouge as just another human made disaster, based on idealistic ideas? Interestingly enough we can never avoid finding silent signs of ‘long time gone’ stories. Weather or not we are able to understand them is another question. It may just be a heap of stones, a pile of rubble perhaps, telling us some facts. Is it the stones that are so interesting or is it the people who left them behind?
Read MORE of the story...

Image archive link: Kep - by the beach

Treviso Dormitory

There wasn’t much to do in Venice when I visited last year… It all started well on the day of arrival, although I only had one hour before the sun went down to get a glimpse of the city’s famous beauty.
Alas, the weather changed the following morning...

Read MORE of the story...

Image archive for Treviso Dormitory

The London Photographic Association is a creative organisation showcasing commercial and fine art photography portfolios. One of their yearly activities is to run photography competitions throughout the year, covering the various genres of the medium. In summer 2007 Astrid was highly recommended in the 'Open Summer Competition' with a series called 'Car Park'. Her 'frozen' images were taken during a trip to Spindleruv Bouda, Krkonoae, (about 1200m above see level), north of Czech Republic, on the last day of December 2005.


Car Park

Have you ever wondered - when sitting in a plane and looking out of the window - what it would be like inside a cloud, where everything is white and had no definition? Last December I found out - of course - one would see absolutely nothing and it is far from being romantic...

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Image archive link: London Photographic Association

In April 2006 Astrid was commissioned to document the annual Universal Peace Conference in Jerusalem. She extended the journey for a documentary project on zoos in Israel as well as the Palestinian territories. One story attracted her in particular: the isolated zoo in Qalqilya, a small town in the West Bank, which is totally enclosed by the separation wall.

Image archive for Qalqilya Zoo, Palestinian Territory


Other observations on living conditions are photographed in the different areas Astrid encountered.

Image archive for Seperation Wall at Al Ezaria, East Jerusalem
Image archive for Elay Sinai Camp, Jewish Settlers after Disengagement, 2006
Image archive for Street Photography in Jerusalem


Jaffa (Oranges or what?)

Jaffa is beautiful, so I was told, romantic and really old. So when I arrived I expected to see the flavour of its Palestinian history. Indeed, the first impression after I got out of the car in at night matched my expectations: warm air coming from the sea, the scent of a hookah across the pavement and the bustling atmosphere at Jaffa’s centre near the clock tower. Promising, I thought...
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Image archive for Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Commissioned by the charity organisation ROKPA International Astrid spend one month in Kathmandu’s Tibetan Quarter.
Working with ROKPA included documenting the soup-kitchen and medical services for the countless beggars around the stupa.
Aid is only available during the harsh wintertime and desperately needed. However, ROCKPA also established a children's home and a training program for single mothers.

Fascinated by the Buddhist culture Astrid visited monasteries in Boudhanath’s neighbourhood and spend one week in a nunnery on the Sivapuri Mountain. Nagi Gompa is the second largest Buddhist nunnery and offers a interesting insight into the richness of Tibetan believes.

Other topics include a Nepalese hospital and a local school.

Image archive for 'Rokpa' Children’s Home
Image archive for 'Rokpa' Medical Project

The London Photographic Association is a creative organisation showcasing commercial and fine art photography portfolios. One of their yearly activities is to run photography competitions throughout the year covering the various genres of the medium.

In 2004 Astrid was chosen to be the Bronze Award winner for the category 'Beauty and Form' with her series ‘People and their favourite foods’

Image archive link: London Photographic Association

It was not the Scottish landscape that attracted Astrid to visit Dumfriesshire, it was a Tibetan Monastery, hidden in the middle of nowhere, on the rainiest spot in the UK. Kagyu Sanye Ling was founded in 1967, its name means ‘place beyond imagination’. Through Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche’s (co-founder) vision and guidance, a magnificent temple in traditional Tibetan design was erected and opened its door in 1988. The temple and most other buildings, which followed were build entirely by volunteers and funded through donations. Today the monastery is a flourishing centre preserving Tibetan Buddhism, arts, medicine and culture. Buddhist teachings of highest standards, weekend courses, retreats and special events are held throughout the year. Kagyu Samye Ling is constantly growing and the building work is still ongoing. Yet it is an oasis of peace and wisdom, aiming to benefit all beings far beyond the area where it is placed.

Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, Monastery
Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, Artwork
Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, People and Work