Robert Klemm has worked as a professional photographer in Germany and New York for years but in Coral Gables, where he now lives, he finally found a place that inspired him to publish his first book.
Landscapes of Coral Gables, a hardcover of 53 black-and-white photographs of the City Beautiful's landmark buildings and landscapes, features the Biltmore Hotel, the Venetian Pool and the Alhambra water tower, as well as Fairchild Tropical Garden and some private residences.
"I started to take pictures of Coral Gables because I wanted to share my impressions of this wonderful city with my family back home in Germany and so finally a book developed out of it,'' said Klemm, who worked two years on self-published book.
From Tuesday through December, an exhibit of Klemm's photographs from the book will be on display at Coral Gables City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. The city, one of the book's sponsors, prepurchased several books to help cover the production costs, said Cathy Swanson, the Gables' director of economic development.
Landscapes of Coral Gables is a wonderful publication, which celebrates the city and its history. I cannot think of a better way to showcase that than with Robert Klemm's photographs,'' Swanson said.
Coral Gables Congregational Church, where Klemm is a member, also served as a sponsor for the book.
"We were very happy to be able to sponsor his book and support the idea of such a beautiful book, which includes a picture of our Congregational Church,'' said Barbara D. Brown, church administrator.
That photograph is his wife's favorite.
"It really transfers a spiritual feeling. There is a certain glow to it,'' Debra Klemm said.
A bench beneath a huge tree in the Fairchild Tropical Garden is Klemm's personal favorite.
"Life is so busy and hectic that you really need a place to rest and let your heart and soul catch up with you,'' Klemm said, adding that he fell in love with the art of photography when he was a little kid.
"I always loved glancing through our black and white photo album and when my father gave me my first camera when I was 6 years old, the spirit of photography had captured me,'' Klemm said.
After high school he trained in photography then worked as an assistant photographer in a photo studio in Hamburg.
"The common language in photo studios all over the globe is English,'' he said. "So after a short while they fired me because they considered my English to be too bad.''
So, at 25, he sold his VW Golf and went to New York City to improve his English.
"I wanted to succeed in New York even if I had to wash dishes to earn money, and I actually had to during the first year there,'' said Klemm, who got his first photography job at a small advertising agency. He then stayed within the field of fashion photography and advertising, working for Macy's, the New York Times Magazine and Women's Wear Daily.
"After eight years in New York I needed a change,'' Klemm said. "As a German, you always look for a city with palm trees and nice weather, so Miami Beach was just the right location for me.''
The sudden death of his father forced him to return to Germany in 1998 for two years, but the sunshine and palm trees of South Florida brought him and his wife back in 2000, when they moved into the City Beautiful.
"My heart found a home; it is Coral Gables,'' Klemm said.
"The book is just amazing,'' said his wife Debra, who works in the hotel sales business.
Klemm's specialty is wedding and corporate photography and he says he enjoys taking wedding pictures because the tropical surroundings in Coral Gables provide an ideal setting for romantic images.
"I do not need a photo studio because I have Florida,'' Klemm said, "and that is the best studio you can get.''
Landscapes of Coral Gables, is available at Books & Books Coral Gables.
Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305.444.9044
