Pure & Straight Photography

Imogen Cunningham - John Butler with Mask 1923

This image shows a close up of John Butler holding a mask above his face. The photograph is typical of pure and straight photography because of the sharp focus of the image; you can see the detail from the hair and freckles on his arms, the texture of the mask to the print detail on what the model is lying on. Also the photograph shows a high contrast of black and white tones, this highlights the sunlight lighting that creates the dark shadows of the mask onto the models face. The images seems to create a vulnerability towards the model, as if they are hiding behind the masks shadow, his eyes staring away from the camera almost closed adds emphasis to this shyness. This detail in her photographs is expressed through natural light and the pose of the model, which emphasizes her accuracy as a photographer. This image is a move on from Pictorialism with no manipulation through hand printing and the detail of the image through natural form encouraging straight photography. The period in which this photograph was taken was when photographer Imogen Cunningham focused on the ‘artistic nudes’.  

Pictorialism

 Grand Prix at Longchamp: After the Races, Paris, 1907

The photograph title 'After the races' enlightens you that the image has been taken after an event. After reading the title it is easy to predict that it may be a busy photograph. The photograph itself comes across as chaotic with several people in the centre of the image; because of this your eyes are almost confused what part of the photograph to be drawn to. With there bodies positioned away from the camera, this suggests that this photo was a snapshot, to me it gives off the impression that the photographer didn't want to be noticed, almost as if he was 'never there', and the dark light framing the photograph emphasises this point. This visual information is typical of pictorialism; since the photgraphs composition is like a painting, with the darkness framing the main part of the photo, also the darkness relates to a smaller depth of field. Additionally the medium used is a hand-pulled dust-grain photogravure, giving the image a misty soft focus, and a slightly grainy effect. Being a painter before discovering photography allowed Edward Steichen to influence photography as an art form, this was reflected by his Pictorialist approach was recognised by his soft focus 'dreamy-like' images.The photograph reflects the time/events in the period it was made. At that time it was only the upper class citizens who could afford to attend such events as the races, and here this status is portrayed through what the people are wearing, with their fancy hats, umbrellas, heavy dresses and white heels. Also the transport in the photograph is horse and carriage which was the quickest way at that time.

Review of ‘Image makers, Image takers’ by Anne-Celine Jaeger

‘Image makers, Image takers’ by Anne – Celine Jaeger is where you discover several insights to how a photographer thinks.  This book has five categories; art documentary, fashion and advertising, portraiture and next generation, which 22 inspirational photographers are separated into. This book provides a run of interviews of contemporary photographers and those who work with photos, such as curators and publishers.

Ellen Von Unworth ‘I’m not into digital, I’m going to use film for as long as it exists because I actually think digital isn’t faster, you might have the picture straight away, but after you have to do so much retouching.’ This gives me a different outlook on taking a photograph; I now think to consider focusing on the image from the camera rather than in postproduction. This process will also improve my photographing skills and give me more factors to consider. Rankin ‘I usually start by looking at contact sheets from a distance, I focus on a shape and composition.’  This has made me reflect on what I do which is look at each photograph separately, because by doing what Rankin does gives you a whole view of them all and can highlight aspects that you may have previously missed.  This technique I feel will help me better when selecting photographs for a series and following both quotes I will now have a better viewpoint of colour, shape, distance and composition.