Changing Role of Photography in the 20th Century Essay Example
History Of Photography 1 Essay 3
2011
Lecturer: Chad Rossouw
Title: THE CHANGING ROLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Handing in date: Monday 19th September 2011
Student: Katinka Bester
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” –Paul Strand
Photography in the early 20th century fast became a dominant medium in documenting the changes in a mass growing society. Artists like Paul Strand and Alexander Rodchenko were avid participants of the movement called straight photography, composing nuanced images from ordinary moments. This new exploration in imagery led to the presentation of a photo through a clearer eye, without the manipulation of a negative. This essay outlines the aspects of a formal analysis on photographs taken by Paul Strand and Alexander Rodchenko, enlightening how these photographs changed elements of the 20th century. Further onwards in the essay I will clarify how these elements were applied to a contemporary social and political issue.
Straight photography is photography in which the image is not obviously manipulated. In straight photographs, the mechanical objectivity of the camera and lens takes precedence over the creativity of the artist in the altering of the print to achieve artistic effects (Merrell, date unknown, 342).
The adventure of European Pictorialism lasted for thirty years. Its practitioners were united primarily by the establishment of aesthetic concepts that were intended to give photography legitimacy as a medium of artistic expression on the same footing as painting and the graphic arts. The Pictorialists sought to create effects with the use of framing, composition, backlighting, lengthened perspectives, and low camera angles. They perfected special lenses, enabling them to restrict their camera’s vision. Picture’s were given an artistic touch by means of out-of-focus effects, blurring their photographic sharpness
2011
Lecturer: Chad Rossouw
Title: THE CHANGING ROLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Handing in date: Monday 19th September 2011
Student: Katinka Bester
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” –Paul Strand
Photography in the early 20th century fast became a dominant medium in documenting the changes in a mass growing society. Artists like Paul Strand and Alexander Rodchenko were avid participants of the movement called straight photography, composing nuanced images from ordinary moments. This new exploration in imagery led to the presentation of a photo through a clearer eye, without the manipulation of a negative. This essay outlines the aspects of a formal analysis on photographs taken by Paul Strand and Alexander Rodchenko, enlightening how these photographs changed elements of the 20th century. Further onwards in the essay I will clarify how these elements were applied to a contemporary social and political issue.
Straight photography is photography in which the image is not obviously manipulated. In straight photographs, the mechanical objectivity of the camera and lens takes precedence over the creativity of the artist in the altering of the print to achieve artistic effects (Merrell, date unknown, 342).
The adventure of European Pictorialism lasted for thirty years. Its practitioners were united primarily by the establishment of aesthetic concepts that were intended to give photography legitimacy as a medium of artistic expression on the same footing as painting and the graphic arts. The Pictorialists sought to create effects with the use of framing, composition, backlighting, lengthened perspectives, and low camera angles. They perfected special lenses, enabling them to restrict their camera’s vision. Picture’s were given an artistic touch by means of out-of-focus effects, blurring their photographic sharpness