Seeing Straight: The f.64 Revolution in Photography.
Discussion led by Mark Myers This morning we considered the contribution of Group f.64 to the aesthetic of straight or pure photography. Mary Street Alinder’s book, Group f.64: Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and the Community of Artists Who Revolutionized American Photography, served as background for a lively and wide ranging discussion. Context was provided by way of a brief overview of the development of Pictorialism and its leading proponent, William Mortensen. The important roles of Alfred Stieglitz, Albert Bender and Lloyd Rollins as proponents and benefactors to the Straight Photography movement were emphasized. It was quite unusual at the time for women to play an equal role to men in the arts, and in this respect Groupf.64 was ground breaking. Women were also noted to play an important role to many of these artists as both collaborators and as a Muse to the artist.We stand on the shoulders of the artists who have preceded us. Understanding this history helps us to better appreciate the aesthetic of straight photography as well as to understand the aesthetic we hope to achieve with our own work. Guest today: Graham Howe Founder & CEO / Curatorial Assistance 113 East Union Street / Pasadena CA 91103
1 Comment
Jim Staub
2/27/2015 01:40:03 am
I found the presentation Mark Meyers delivered, with well selected images and quotes, to have been very exhilarating addendum to reading the "Group f64" book. The concept of the "muse" in its multiple definitions was well developed as represented in Weston some of the other f64 exponents. I noted the need for new terms by the writers in the f64 in order to delineate their photography from the pictorialists. Straight Photography, Pure Photography, Previsualization, Seeing Plus were a few such additions to the dialog.
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