Is photography a medium capable of artistic expression such as painting and sculpture?
I came across this question when researching the photographer Alfred Stieglitz as he wanted to portray how expressive and artistic photography can really be.
Alfred Stieglitz
Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1864, and schooled as an engineer in Germany, Alfred Stieglitz returned to New York in 1890 determined to prove that photography was a medium as capable of artistic expression as painting or sculpture. As the editor of Camera Notes, the journal of the Camera Club of New York—an association of amateur photography enthusiasts—Stieglitz espoused his belief in the aesthetic potential of the medium and published work by photographers who shared his conviction. When the rank-and-file membership of the Camera Club began to agitate against his restrictive editorial policies, Stieglitz and several like-minded photographers broke away from the group in 1902 to form the Photo-Secession, which advocated an emphasis on the craftsmen-ship involved in photography.
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The Photo-Secession was an early-20th-century movement that promoted photography as a fine art in general and photographic pictorialism in particular. A group of photographers, led by Alfred Stieglitz and F. Holland Day in the early 1900s, held the then controversial viewpoint that what was significant about a photograph was not what was in front of the camera but the manipulation of the image by the artist/photographer to achieve his or her subjective vision. The movement helped to raise standards and awareness of art photography. The group is the American counterpart to the Linked Ring, an invitation-only British group which seceded from the Royal Photographic Society.
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Jorge Miguel
This photograph was inspired by a photograph that Jorge Miguel took. I attempted to re-create his image but in my own style. It seems to appear that Miguel used a thick liquid subtance which was poured over the models face. In my photograph, I used water and I made the models face white to make it look more absurd and unique. Miguel took the photograph in the centre look straight at the model from the shoulders up, I attempted to use the same composition however, I zoomed in slightly more as I wanted my photograph to have much more detail and depth within it. I used photoshop to manipulate this photograph. I used the dodge tool and evened out the marks on her face and then changed the colour of the photograph to cyan but made it look subtle. After this, I used the brush tool and coloured the background and then used the burn tool to make the model the subject of the photograph and make her stand out.
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For this photoshoot, I ensured that I took the photographs in the same composition but I played around with lighting to see what would look most like the photographer. I made my model change her facial expressions to make the photograph more eye catching and to
I took this photograph in the style of my photographer. I covered my model in white paint and then I used photoshop to manipulate and enhance the photographs. I took the photograph in the centre as this composition is similar to Jorge Miguel. I also used the dodge tool to even out the colour of the face and then I used the burn tool to make it contrasted in certain places. I then used the brush tool and coloured in the background in order for my model to stand out.
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I did this photoshoot as I wanted to re-create Miguels style of work. The reason why I have imitated the same make-up and costume is because I wanted to compare them and see where my faults lay. I ensured that I analysed the photograph in depth. I looked at the style, the lighting and the composition of the photograph. I believe that my photographs are similar to Miguel however, they are not as successful as I wanted them to be. As there is no harsh shadows, the photographs look flat.
I took photograph in the style of my photographer. I attempted this not only through having the same costume but using the same composition and lighting. I analysed the photograph and focused on the composition and lighting. I found that thwere was no real harsh shadows therefore, I made more that there was enough exposure of lighting which meant that there was minimal shadow. The original photograph is composed so that it is in the centre shoulders up. In this particular photograph, I wanted to change the vantage point slightly and so I took the photograph in the centre from the shoulders up but I changed it by taking the photogtaph from a high angle so that the model it looking up at the camera. The reason I ddid the makeup the same is because I wanted to see whether my photograph would be similar. I then used photoshop to manipulate this photograph, I evened out the skin by using the dodge tool so that it looks flawless, I then used the burn tool to darken the blood hand print on the head so that it looks more effective and then I used the brush tool and changed the colour to grey, the opacity to 50% and changed the backgrounf colour.
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Günter Brus
Günter Brus was born on September 27 1938 he is an Austrian photograph and graphic artist. He was Sentenced to 6 months in prison after the "Kunst und Revolution" event at the University of Vienna in 1968, and he has committed many offences since.
This is a self portrait by Gunter Brus, it was taken in 1964. I like this self portrait because it is different from most self portraits. Instead of making himself look good he is tearing himself up for art. His work is that of the outside thinker who doesn’t pay attention laws. I find this photograph quite exciting as it is a brave thing to miss represents yourself for the whole world. He doses this in most of his work. I find the most important things about this photo are the perspective that is almost 3rd person combined with the contrast as it highlights the texture of the makeup and shows the tones that appear with the shadows. The reason I chose this photographer is because his work is surreal and effective. As he uses paint, the photographs are textured which brings them out more. I would like to co-operate texture in to my photograph as I believe it gives the photographs more depth.
This is a self portrait by Gunter Brus, it was taken in 1964. I like this self portrait because it is different from most self portraits. Instead of making himself look good he is tearing himself up for art. His work is that of the outside thinker who doesn’t pay attention laws. I find this photograph quite exciting as it is a brave thing to miss represents yourself for the whole world. He doses this in most of his work. I find the most important things about this photo are the perspective that is almost 3rd person combined with the contrast as it highlights the texture of the makeup and shows the tones that appear with the shadows. The reason I chose this photographer is because his work is surreal and effective. As he uses paint, the photographs are textured which brings them out more. I would like to co-operate texture in to my photograph as I believe it gives the photographs more depth.