Photofocus

Education and inspiration for visual storytellers

Lisa Robinson

Co-Founder SoftBox Media and Owner/Lead Photographer at Lovesome Photography.We provide top-notch, award winning wedding & portrait services to the D.C. area & beyond.

Latest posts by Lisa Robinson (see all)

History of Photography: The Stieglitz Group

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The Stieglitz Group was an essential number of photographers who pioneered then promoted the pictorial style of photography. (Check out my article on pictorialism here!) Through the efforts of these photographers, photography was ultimately elevated and appreciated culturally to an art form. Through their new techniques and relentless quest to get their images viewed more often by the public, they were able to change the perception of photography as something one does for a personal album into something that also includes purchasing and … [Read more...] about History of Photography: The Stieglitz Group

A New Kind of Acrylic: TruLife

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Recently, my friend and fellow Photofocus author, Levi Sim, called me up and asked me about how I print my photos for my clients. We discussed the options I have and where I like to have them printed and he asked me if I had ever used acrylics. I shared with him that truthfully, I didn't really enjoy acrylic prints. I find them to be a bit too much "in your face" with their super reflective nature. I always found that the acrylic got in the way of the viewing experience. He proceeded to tell me about what ArtisanHD is doing with a new product … [Read more...] about A New Kind of Acrylic: TruLife

History of Photography: The Photo-Secession Movement

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Camera Work In 1902 Stieglitz, along with Joseph T. Kelley launched Camera Work, a quarterly publication that supported the ideals of the Photo-Secession movement with the purpose of to "loosely hold together those Americans devoted to pictorial photography in their endeavor to compel its recognition, not as a handmaiden of art, but as a distinctive medium of individual expression." Photo-Secession encompassed pictorialism, which holds that the manipulation of an image to create the photographer's subjective perspective was more important than … [Read more...] about History of Photography: The Photo-Secession Movement

History of Photography: What is Pictorialism?

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In the late 1800's photography was still basically like a baby giraffe learning how to get up and walk for the first time. Photography didn't really know what it was, processes were still being invented and refined and there was still great debate between it's uses for amateurs, scientists/engineers, and artists. More clubs and associations began popping up, including the founding of the Professional Photographers of America and the establishment of photography degrees at schools such as the Chicago College of Photography. These all aimed to … [Read more...] about History of Photography: What is Pictorialism?

History of Photography: An introduction to Alfred Stieglitz

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Alfred Stieglitz is a name many photographers may recognize as "a big deal" but also a name that they might not be well acquainted with. While Stieglitz sets a lot of things in motion for photography's growth, I want to revisit his earliest days in photography. Beginnings In 1881, Stieglitz was working with a mechanical engineer in Berlin, Hermann Wilhelm Vogel. Vogel was known for his work with orthochromatic emulsions and an avid photography enthusiast. His work and passions rubbed off on Stieglitz who began being curious about photography … [Read more...] about History of Photography: An introduction to Alfred Stieglitz

History of Photography: Early Stages of Color

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Since the beginning, everyone wanted color photographs. Images being black and white only was a chief complaint about photography. Initially, there were a few "successes"; Sir John Herschel was able to record blue, green and red on paper coated with a silver chloride solution, but he was unable to "fix" (make it permanent) it. This is very interesting as it was the first suggestion that color could be recorded directly on a chemically sensitive material just by the light itself. Levi Hill claimed to have created a permanent process in 1851 but … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Early Stages of Color

History of Photography: Advances in Technology for Negatives

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Photography moves from wet plates to dry There's no denying that the wet plate process was not easy. It took considerable time, planning, effort, money, supplies, and proper logistics to execute and to top it off, the chemicals and fumes from the alcohols and ethers were health hazards. In 1860, a French scientist called Taupenot produced the first ever collodion dry plates. Since they didn't require the whole wet plate prepping process, photographers were attracted to them, however, their flaws were quickly discovered in that these new … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Advances in Technology for Negatives

Luminar 2018: My First Impressions

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Macphun (Skylum Software) just dropped their latest version of their editing tool, Luminar 2018 and I decided to check it out. I'm not typically one to edit my work with tons of filters and actions, and those that I do use, I tend to use sparingly, so I wanted to see what Luminar 2018 had in store and how much finesse their tools had. Seeing as I just got back from an epic journey to South Africa, I had a lot of fun images to play with. First Impressions: Pros One of the major things I like about Luminar 2018 is its flexibility. It can … [Read more...] about Luminar 2018: My First Impressions

History of Photography: The Snapshot

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The introduction of the Kodak camera and it’s ensuing popularity started an entirely new school of thought in photography; the snapshot. Previously, "snapshot" was used by hunters as a term that meant to shoot instinctively without taking aim. Soon the term became quite appropriate for photography as well. The increasing ease (technically and financially) of taking a photograph led to more and more people shooting spontaneously and indiscriminately. People were free to take a multitude of photos of their everyday lives--from the places they … [Read more...] about History of Photography: The Snapshot

History of Photography: Introduction of Kodak

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In the early life of photography, cameras (and all the gear that came with them) were large, heavy, and cumbersome. The wet plate processes, the only one available, required the photographer (or an assistant) to do the development. This added considerably to the time, expense, and skill level required to make a "simple" photograph. In 1888 George Eastman invented roll film, then brought forth the Kodak camera and changed the entire face of photography forever. Or at least until they invented digital capture, which once again, changed … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Introduction of Kodak

History of Photography: Industrialization

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In the late 1800's the world was beginning to take shape into something more of what it looks like today. Industrialization was coming to cities and taking them, literally, to the next level. Ships were being built larger and larger. Railroad systems were being expanded into uncharted territory. Industrialization brought birth to a lot of great things, one of which was introducing new visual problems for photographers to solve. Prior to these massive skyscrapers, ships, and trains, our landscapes were serene and unspoiled (okay, maybe less … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Industrialization

History of Photography: Mobile Studios

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As long as photography remained chained to any sort of wet plate process, photographers found themselves encumbered by massive hardships in order to "take the show on the road". However, as transportation networks grew, architectural technology advanced, and people began exploring the world more, there was increasing demand for images of new lands and architectural feats. Three types of travel photography began to emerge: amateur (where people took photos solely for their personal memories), official (where government entities hired … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Mobile Studios

History of Photography: Julia Margaret Cameron

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  As a woman, I naturally celebrate a little when I look back in the history of photography and see other women who have made significant contributions to my craft. In a field that perceptually (even to this day) seems to be dominated by males, it's nice to remember that women also had hands in this industry from its early stages. Julia Margaret Cameron is one of those women.   Cameron was a British woman living in the British Colonial system in India in the mid-1800's. She was a privileged woman, which allowed her to … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Julia Margaret Cameron

History of Photography: Henry Peach Robinson

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Last time, we talked about how Rejlander pushed the envelope with the conventional view of photography as art (thus far). There was another, slightly younger, contemporary of Rejlander's named Henry Peach Robinson to whom we also owe credit to for pushing the art of photography along as well. Robinson, a portrait photographer in the mid-1850's, was inspired to explore combination printing by Rejlander's "The Two Ways of Life". One of his most known pieces is that entitled "Fading Away". A tableaux scene made from 5 combined negatives, that … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Henry Peach Robinson

History of Photography: Oscar Rejlander

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The battle for photography's place in the fine art world is a road that is long and seemingly never ending at times, even today. In the 1800's especially, photography struggled for a place at the table and one man, in particular, pushed the envelope: Oscar Gustave Rejlander. During the Victorian Era, photographic standards of art were mostly based on comparisons to painting. In other words, the photo had to look real, but not too real. Many photographers chose to use sub standard lenses, smudge the lenses or plates, and even introduce camera … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Oscar Rejlander

History of Photography: Is Photography Art?

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Is photography art? This seemingly simple question is anything but. Since the earliest days of photography, critics and photographers themselves have questioned if it's purely a mechanical, commercial process or one that is intrinsically woven as another thread into the totality of the arts. In the 1850's, the patents on photography held by William Henry Fox Talbot were relaxed. The photography industry saw an influx of professionals seeking to meet the needs of an ever growing public's demand for photos and portraits. These professionals … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Is Photography Art?

History of Photography: Brady, Gardner, and The Civil War

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It's odd to think of war as a way for photographers to hone their skills. In the Spring of 1861 when the American Civil War broke out, it presented photographers with just such an opportunity. Initially, people thought the war would be won quickly (particularly those in the North.) Photographers figured they could make images of heroic soldiers and easily sell them to collectors and the media to mark the historic occasion. As we now know, the American Civil War was anything but swift and bloodless. It incurred over 620,000 deaths, making it … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Brady, Gardner, and The Civil War

History of Photography: Photos as Propaganda

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As photography evolved, one theme remained fairly constant in the public's opinion: seeing is believing. People generally regarded photographic prints as evidence of truth and reality. Steadily becoming more mobile, photographers tended to photograph scenes of current events wide, because as much visual information as could be jammed into a photo, the better the photo was considered. A tight crop didn't give the viewer nearly as much information to digest as a wide shot. It was believed there was more truth and accuracy in wider shots than … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Photos as Propaganda

History of Photography: Muybridge and Marey

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Between the 1850's and 1880's two men, Eadweard Muybridge and Etienne-Jules Marey both were using photography to further the study of locomotion (or movement) of humans and animals. However, they both had different approaches and motives. The Running Horse Muybridge was commissioned by the builder of the Central Pacific Railroad, Leland Stanford, to provide proof that when a horse galloped, there is a point at which it has all four feet off the ground. The quest was difficult. Initial use of a wet plate was too slow for to get a sharp … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Muybridge and Marey

History of Photography: Stereoscopic Photography

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Stereostopic photography is yet another blip in the history of photography where the photograph was still working to find its' true identity. It's based on binocular vision, which is the action of the brain associating two slightly different images (each one through a separate eye) as one image which in turn creates an effect of depth. Given it's introduction in the early 1800's, you can imagine the novelty of this early "virtual reality" that people experienced! We owe the beginning of stereoscopic photography to a man by the name of Sir … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Stereoscopic Photography

History of Photography: Retouching & Enlarging Makes Waves

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In today's world, it's hard to wrap our heads around a time when retouching and enlarging photos wasn't not only accepted, but expected! However, as photography was in its infancy, and was still bopping around finding its real place in the the world, retouching especially, was not always met with open arms. While hand painting a print was widely accepted, retouching the negative, or retouching the print in a way that would alter a person's appearance (minimizing characteristics on the body, blemishes, etc.) was often deemed fraudulent. Add that … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Retouching & Enlarging Makes Waves

History of Photography: Studio Forefathers Push Photography Forward

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The collodion process in general was fairly inexpensive, which in and of itself helped propel photography forward. It also encouraged the expansion of photo studios. In 1851 there were less than a dozen portrait studios in London, but that exploded to more than 200 just 10 years later in 1861. Noteworthy portrait maker Gaspard Félix Tournachon came to photographing portraits by way of his past as a caricature artist. He later became known by the nickname Nadar, a shortened version of "Tourne à dard" meaning "one who stings". Apparently he had … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Studio Forefathers Push Photography Forward

History of Photography: The Cabinet Photo

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The carte-de-visite reigned supreme in the public's taste until around 1866. Cartes were great, but rather tiny. Soon, demand for a larger format became more loud. People also wanted more detail in their photos (which a larger format would provide). In 1862, Marion & Co.  first introduced the cabinet card. Sized at 6.75 x 4.25 inches, it met the growing demands of the public. As more and more studios adopted the new format, popularity soared. The exact origin of the name "cabinet" is somewhat unclear, but it might be a reference all … [Read more...] about History of Photography: The Cabinet Photo

History of Photography: The Carte-de-Visite

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In 1854, a photographer by the name of André Disdéri patented a new take on the collodion process called the Carte-de-Visite (or Carte, for short). Though they could be a singular image, Cartes were often multiple exposures taken onto a single sheet of paper, creating almost a collage effect. A multi-lens camera had tubular lenses (i.e. no shutter) so the different focal lengths could be covered and uncovered for exposures (allowing different poses) but all the exposures fell onto the same wet plate. The images could be cut apart for individual … [Read more...] about History of Photography: The Carte-de-Visite

Ambrotypes and Tintypes

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In my last History of Photography article, I talked about the wet plate, or collodion process and how it was quickly adopted as the status quo in the industry. Like many things that are popular, offshoots are invented by people looking for their own piece of the pie. In the mid-1850's a daguerreotypist in Philadelphia, PA named a new spinoff process ambrotype. Ambrotypes are made from the collodion process but were a positive-looking image on glass. Like daguerreotypes, it produced a one of a kind image, laterally reversed, had similar … [Read more...] about Ambrotypes and Tintypes

Rise of The Wet Plate Process

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After Talbot introduced the calotype (see my previous article here), the world was in search of something photographic in between the calotype's unique paper characteristics and the daguerreotype's pristine, crystal clear detail. In the 1840's photographers began making the move to glass plates instead of a silvered plate as it was much less expensive and completely smooth. In 1847 a man by the name of Claude Félix Abel Niépce de Saint-Victor (Nicéphore Niépce's cousin) had a breakthrough. You see, using glass was cheaper and produced excellent … [Read more...] about Rise of The Wet Plate Process

The Calotype: An Overview

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In my last history of photography article, I talked about William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of the Calotype. Here, I want to explore how the calotype evolved within photography and how it evolved the photographic world. In the 1840's, Daguerreotypes were still hugely popular. Their "look" was unlike anything else, and society was not convinced of the calotype's prowess. After all, it has not been politically vetted (Daguerre had received a pension and high honors from the state for his invention) and financial backing was lacking. … [Read more...] about The Calotype: An Overview

William Henry Fox Talbot: An Overview

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William Henry Fox Talbot was an English scientist and scholar in the early 1800’s. Although he was a contemporary of Daguerre, his contributions to photography were independent of what was going on with Daguerre and in mainland Europe. In 1834, Talbot was able to create a different camera based image process that utilized the photosensitivity of silver salts, called the salted paper print. In a salted paper print, Talbot took ordinary paper and coated it with sodium chloride, let it dry, then recoated it with silver nitrate. The result … [Read more...] about William Henry Fox Talbot: An Overview

Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype

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Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype In the past few articles of this series, we’ve seen how the daguerreotype came about but we haven’t really taken a moment to look at just how far-reaching the effects of its “birth” were. For starters, the daguerreotype put an end to the portrait making business as it was known to the world. Skilled painters, who previously were the only means of creating a likeness of one’s self, were suddenly squeezed by the faster and cheaper process. Not only was the daguerreotype literally faster and easier to create … [Read more...] about Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype

The Daguerreotype

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As is often the case with history, it seems that time moves slowly until it explodes in a flurry of invention and then seemingly all at once everything changes. To me, this feels especially true in photography. In my previous articles, the sheer expanse of time from the first inklings of photographic concepts to the actualization of recording images by chemical reactions of light is astounding. It takes ages. Yet, once the daguerreotype appears all at once, things begin to change. First things first. What exactly is a daguerreotype? It’s not … [Read more...] about The Daguerreotype