tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654754338632526091.post267525302961270840..comments2024-03-27T00:32:29.877-07:00Comments on Photos and Stuff: Pictorialismamolitorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654754338632526091.post-51230292826741770442016-01-28T08:58:01.267-08:002016-01-28T08:58:01.267-08:00You will find Gernsheim to be much more balanced t...You will find Gernsheim to be much more balanced than Newhall -- Gernsheim had no ax to grind.Dave Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16815756076188881975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654754338632526091.post-5001033083471671022016-01-27T17:58:44.170-08:002016-01-27T17:58:44.170-08:00Robinson's major book can be downloaded from b...Robinson's major book can be downloaded from books.google.com!<br /><br />I feel like I know more than most people about the history of photography and am still profoundly ignorant. Thanks for the pointer to Gernsheim!amolitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654754338632526091.post-85347386412443278352016-01-27T17:36:21.754-08:002016-01-27T17:36:21.754-08:00Forgive my ignorance, but I have always taken the ...Forgive my ignorance, but I have always taken the Pictorialist label to mean 'contrived, staged, made up of multiple images' (HP Robinson's trademark) style of photography, as opposed to the 'straight out of the camera but altered with filters/in the darkroom' style of Adams and Weston, among others.<br />Pictorialism is muddy, yes, but remember also the 60s and 70s, where portrait photography was 'soft', to hide the skin blemishes and the fact that some women and men age prematurely.<br />Was that Pictorialism?<br />Today's portraits are much more about lighting, environment and the finding of the subject's soul.<br />Newhall was a victim of photography's politics (Stieglitz's insistence that only HIS opinions mattered (my take, I don't like the man!)), so took umbrage and sided with Adams.<br />The whole thing was a monumental storm in a teacup, as Newhall /Steichen/Adams all struggled to be the MAN after Stieglitz died.<br />I find Helmut Gernsheim's interpretation of photographic history to be much better than Newhall's, who, IMHO, is too pariochial in his understanding of who and what made photography.<br />Ditto Nancy, such a sycophant!<br />We all have heroes and villains; despite my contention that the only good material came out of Europe, I love the work of Weston, Friedlander, Arnold Newman and the landscape works of Robert Glenn Ketchum and Galen Rowell.<br />I have lots of books by Adams, Emerson, but no H P Robinson.<br />Mike J had the classical photo education, that there are heroes to be revered, and so he does.<br />Me, I'm always wanting to disagree with the Establishment viewpoint, hence my comments above!<br />Regards,<br />David<br />PS Willie makes some bloody good points above, just to contradict me!milldavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01970560156979145583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654754338632526091.post-82003395806873576062016-01-27T14:27:46.702-08:002016-01-27T14:27:46.702-08:00Howdy old chap.
Your last sentence sums it up perf...Howdy old chap.<br />Your last sentence sums it up perfectly for me. It's how I have always considered the term.<br /><br />I also agree that the word is used as a pejorative term. <br />That itself could lead to a whole discussion on taste, values, and preferences. After all, if someone - either back then, or now - enjoys such photography, who has the right to be condescending of them?<br /><br />It was of its time, just as certain fads and styles are of this time, unfortunately (looking at all those photographs of HDR, milky way, Iceland, slot canyons etc etc). Actually come to think of it, Pictorialism is starting to sound ok. <br /><br />One final thing - you are not alone in symbolically taking the hat off to Mike at TOP. <br />Along with Mr. Tuck he is required daily reading.<br /><br />Cheers.<br />Williehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12340234422334227647noreply@blogger.com