“I always thought of photography as a naughty thing to do — that was one of my favorite things about it, and when I first did it, I felt very perverse.” — Diane Arbus Diane Arbus was as unique a photographer as the subjects she chronicled. Her photographs of circus performers, dwarfs and giants, transgender people and nudists are stunning studies of what most consider grotesque, surreal or even ugly. Born to well-to-do parents, Diane was raised by maids and nannies. After her marriage to Allan Arbus, she became interested in photography … [Read more...] about On Photography: Diane Arbus, 1923-1971
History
On Photography: Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1898-1995
“I have to be as much diplomat as a photographer.” — Alfred Eisenstaedt The Associated Press hired Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1929 to work for them as a professional photographer out of their office in Germany. Before World War II, he photographed notables including fascists Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Joseph Goebbels. By 1935 he had moved to New York carrying with him his notoriety as a "photographer extraordinaire" earned early on in Europe. He was hired by Time founder Henry Luce as one of the four original Life staff photographers … [Read more...] about On Photography: Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1898-1995
On Photography: Ansel Adams, 1902-1984
“There is nothing worse than a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept.” -Ansel Adams Ansel Adams was a photographer, environmentalist and a concert-quality pianist. He is best known for his photographs of grand vistas rendered in immaculate black and white prints. Young Ansel taught himself to read music and to play the piano. The discipline he learned at the piano translated into the precision he had to develop for the workings of photography both at the camera and in the darkroom. While Adams started in the soft, pictorial style by the 1930's … [Read more...] about On Photography: Ansel Adams, 1902-1984
9/11 — Remembering the last 17 years
The great tragedy of mass death and destruction by terrorists piloting hijacked jets in New York City has left all of us who watched, in person or on our televisions with indelible memories of that day. We remember exactly where we were when the unthinkable first aircraft struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. "It has to be an accident!" many thought or said out loud in disbelieve at the burning building in closeup on the screen. That was 8:46 a.m. The horrible truth that it was no accident was confirmed at 9:03 when a second plane … [Read more...] about 9/11 — Remembering the last 17 years
On Photography: Edward Weston, 1886-1958
“If I have any ‘message’ worth giving to a beginner it is that there are no shortcuts in photography.” —Edward Weston Edward Weston was a seminal photographer of the first half of the 20th century. He studied photography at the Illinois College of Photography then worked as a retoucher for The George Steckel Portrait Studio. He moved to the Louis A. Mojoiner Portrait Studio to be a photographer. His skills in lighting and posing were quickly recognized. After marrying, he opened his own portrait studio in California. He worked in the … [Read more...] about On Photography: Edward Weston, 1886-1958
Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
This week was a stepping stone for me. It was the third time I was covering the same annual CrossFit competition. Three years of hard work. Three years of experience. I thought it would be cool to do a recap of my three years of evolving as a visual artist in the sports field. I realize that lots of things have changed - and I'm not only talking about my cameras. 2016: Where it all began I remember when I got into photography. I started by taking pictures of everything. A walk in the park was an excuse to bring my camera and experiment … [Read more...] about Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
History of Photography: The Stieglitz Group
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
History of Photography: The Photo-Secession Movement
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?
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
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: Advances in Technology for Negatives
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
History of Photography: The Snapshot
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
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
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
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
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
Remembering 9/11
Sixteen years ago, today, the unthinkable happened. Terrorists turned passenger filled airliners into flying bombs they used to attack the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and destroy the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A fourth hijacked jet was crashed by its passengers into a field in Shanksville, PA rather than let it strike another innocent target. Almost two decades later, One Freedom Tower has risen from the ashes to take its place near where the original towers stood. In their place are two memorial waterfalls that … [Read more...] about Remembering 9/11
History of Photography: Oscar Rejlander
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?
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
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: Muybridge and Marey
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
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
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 Photorgraphy: Studio Forefathers Push Photography Forward
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 … [Read more...] about History of Photorgraphy: Studio Forefathers Push Photography Forward
History of Photography: The Cabinet Photo
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: Lillian Bassman, Fashion & Commercial Photographer
I'm filling in for Lisa Robinson's History of Photography column this week. I'm jumping forward in time to highlight groundbreaking work in fashion photography by Lillian Bassman. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 15, 1917, a hundred years ago. She was an independent, unconventional woman with an eclectic background living a bohemian lifestyle. She worked as a textile designer, became a fashion illustrator then moved on to be an assistant to the legendary art director of Harper's Bazaar magazine. Manipulations Lillian worked … [Read more...] about History of Photography: Lillian Bassman, Fashion & Commercial Photographer
History of Photography: The Carte-de-Visite
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
Rise of The Wet Plate Process
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
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
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
