A Brief History of Art Photography

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A Brief History of Art Photography
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Henry Peach Robinson
Fading Away, 1858, Made from 5 different
negatives.
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Oscar Gustav Rejlander
Two Ways of Life, 1857, made from at least 30
different negatives.Print size 30 X 16
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Portrait Photographers - 19th Century
Hill Adamson England Julia Margaret Cameron
Nadar FranceEtienne Carjat
Southworth HawesMatthew Brady United
States
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Key Figure Alfred Stieglitz
The Terminal, 1892 in New York
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Stieglitzs Contributions

• 1st serious Photography Magazine - Camera Work.
• 1st gallery devoted to display of photography -
  Gallery 291 (with Edward Steichen).
• Promoted the work of International artists and
  U.S. photographers - very influential.
• His own photographic work

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Pictorialism -Characteristics

• Intentionally soft focus, hazy imagery
• Imitative of painting styles, especially
  Impressionism
• Often shot in a studio or in idyllic forest
  locations
• Staged Scenes with models
• Some ProponentsEarly StieglitzEarly
  SteichenClarence WhiteGertrude Kasebier

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Woods Interior by Edward Steichen, 1898
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The Dance by Gertrude Kasebier
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The Straight Photographic Tradition
Technical Characteristics Full Depth of
Field No Extraordinary Manipulation Full Range of
Tones Large Negative - no grain
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Aesthetic Philosophic Elements
True to the Thing Itself Description and detail
is paramount. Honesty - no Trickery
Highest quality technical standards
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Other Modes of Expression
The Directorial Approach Multiple
Imagery Sequence Photography
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White Fence by Paul Strand, 1916
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Famous Straight Photographers

• Paul Strand
• Ansel Adams
• Edward Weston
• Brett Weston
• Minor White
• Imogen Cunningham

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Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park, 1932 By
Ansel Adams
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Excusado , 1925 by Edward Weston
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Magnolia Blossom, 1925 by Imogen Cunningham
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Graveyard, Spain, 1960 by Brett Weston
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Other Notable Contemporary Photographers

• Robert Maplethorpe - nudes, flowers,
  homosexual themes
• Cindy Sherman - pictures of herself as a
  model or actress in a scene.
• Jerry Uelsmann - Manipulated prints with
  psychological, dreamlike themes.

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Philosophers Desk, 1989 (?)by Jerry Uelsmann
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Joe, 1978 by Robert Mapplethorpe
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Untitled Film Still, 1978 by Cindy Sherman