Instead of discussing a period in Art History,
(Although...this type of art was right in the middle of the POP ART era), I
decided to shift a bit and discuss one of my favorite types of art and one of
my favorite artists in this field:
BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY by ANSEL ADAMS
Ansel was an American born photographer, best known for his black and white photos that captured the "west" at its most simplistic and yet with all the majesty and glory due nature at it's finest.
In addition to capturing some legendary photographs, he also wrote books about photography, and many manuals about light and cameras.
As the camera was a fairly new invention, being a result of the Industrial Revolution, there was much to learn and discover about light and the way that it reacted with the subject of a photograph. He was known for his part in the development of the ZONE SYSTEM - a technique for photographers to translate the light they see into specific densities on negatives and paper, thus giving them better control over finished photographs. I wish I could detail more about this system, but I don't know much more about it....I WISH I DID!
I find it interesting that in addition to being an artist who may be best known for capturing nature, Ansel was a conservationist, active in the Sierra Club from the age of 17. He went on to even serve on the board with the Sierra Club.
Ansel Adams was commissioned to do other works. One of the more powerful being that of the pictorial depiction/photo essay ofPearl
Harbor .
Adams was the recipient of
3 Guggenheim fellowships during his career. He
also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980 from Jimmy Carter
- Our Nation's highest civilian honor.
He was an activist. He pursued things that meant something to him, and that is evident in the feeling that you get when looking at his photographs. Despite being black and white, they are anything but cold. You "feel" something when you see his photos. That, combined with the fact that Black and White photography has maintained a certain level of popularity for years, both these things prove that his work was art and that he was a great artist in my book!
The cool thing about BLACK & WHITE photography is that there are still so many artist around today that use this medium. It can be CLASSIC, or EDGY....it just all depends on your interpretation.
Do you have a favorite BLACK & WHITE artist? Do you use this medium?
BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY by ANSEL ADAMS
Ansel was an American born photographer, best known for his black and white photos that captured the "west" at its most simplistic and yet with all the majesty and glory due nature at it's finest.
In addition to capturing some legendary photographs, he also wrote books about photography, and many manuals about light and cameras.
As the camera was a fairly new invention, being a result of the Industrial Revolution, there was much to learn and discover about light and the way that it reacted with the subject of a photograph. He was known for his part in the development of the ZONE SYSTEM - a technique for photographers to translate the light they see into specific densities on negatives and paper, thus giving them better control over finished photographs. I wish I could detail more about this system, but I don't know much more about it....I WISH I DID!
I find it interesting that in addition to being an artist who may be best known for capturing nature, Ansel was a conservationist, active in the Sierra Club from the age of 17. He went on to even serve on the board with the Sierra Club.
Ansel Adams was commissioned to do other works. One of the more powerful being that of the pictorial depiction/photo essay of
He was an activist. He pursued things that meant something to him, and that is evident in the feeling that you get when looking at his photographs. Despite being black and white, they are anything but cold. You "feel" something when you see his photos. That, combined with the fact that Black and White photography has maintained a certain level of popularity for years, both these things prove that his work was art and that he was a great artist in my book!
The cool thing about BLACK & WHITE photography is that there are still so many artist around today that use this medium. It can be CLASSIC, or EDGY....it just all depends on your interpretation.
Do you have a favorite BLACK & WHITE artist? Do you use this medium?
Here a a couple of my black and white photography expressions:
(Photography by Autumn Boyet-Stinton protected by Copyright Laws.)
"A Mirrored Perch by Night"
by Autumn Boyet Stinton © December 2012
From the "Silver Bubbles" Series
© Autumn Boyet Stinton July 2011
"Dandy Days" - © Autumn Boyet Stinton 2008
"Mom's Garden"
© Autumn Boyet Stinton 2008
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