In Honor . . .

Friday December 4th, 2020

In the darkroom, the most unique thing I do is selective masking, a technique I have refined over the years. – Alan Ross – in B&W Magazine.

This past week was Alan Ross’s Birthday! Out of all the talented people I’ve spoken to, Alan is one of the most interesting and knowledgeable in our world of Photography.

I’m going to copy a quote from his page:

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Alan Ross is a renowned photographer whose unique vision combines traditional photographic methods with today’s technology.

He worked side-by-side with Ansel Adams as his photographic assistant, and was personally selected by Ansel to print his Yosemite Special Edition negatives.

Alan is a sought-after teacher who inspires professionals and amateurs to prepare their minds for the moment when light, beauty and chance, define opportunity.

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Here is the link to his page: alanrossphotography.com

As a student of photography I’ve studied the works and history of several of those that have come before us. Mr Adams name has an everlasting effect for everything we do, especially in the hunt for knowledge and better quality. On top of his obsession for better quality Mr Adams always had an open mind to play with new equipment that became available.

Mr Ross has the unique experience of being part of Mr Adams world and his insight of influence and inspiration.

I highly recommend that you dear reader perform your own research into both Mr Ross and Mr Adams. Mr Ross is still inspiring and encouraging those who are new to the art of photography.

I am sharing an image that I had created a few years back during an adventure in Ireland. Once I came upon this scene before me, my mind instantly thought of everything I’ve read from the Inspiration of both of these Gentlemen.

Have a Great Weekend!

History of Photography

Friday Nite Photography Quote:

The key to artistic photography is to work out your own thoughts, by yourselves. Imitation leads to certain disaster.
— Gertrude Käsebier

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I was reading about the Group f.64 and the Politics between the different factions of thoughts intrigued me.
There were several Groups of Photographers who had taken sides for the Advancement of what Photography itself should become. Photographic Art was pretty much the common Goal! The mindset of how Photography should advance and what place the Photographic Medium should uphold was the problem.

Our current sentiment actually continues these thoughts but maybe without the Anger and Resentment that permeated the air. There were some strong and powerful people who chose sides and their followers ended up separating within these guidelines.

f.64 was one of the “Purest” ideas where everything in the Image should be sharp and powerful. That the photographic Image should create it’s own place in the Art World.
Here’s an interesting article explaining the “Other” thought called “Pictorialism”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictorialism

Now trying to shape the opinions of Photography were down to a major of two schools of thought. Alfred Steiglitz on the one hand and Ansel Adams on the Pictorialism Side.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_f/64

While all this was going on there were those that wanted to shape their own ideas of what Photography meant to them. The strong independent Women of the time were able to go and create what they felt expressed themselves and not to impress everyone else. Cunningham for one was able to shape photography but ended up in Group f:.64 for a short time.

Now a name shows up while reading about Cunningham that I don’t ever recall hearing about. My Quote above is from this extremely talented woman that deserves here own credits as an Artist. But because of the very domineering personalities she gets lost in the shuffle. This brilliant Artist has her own slice of the Art World but we very rarely ever hear or see anything about her.

Her name: Gertrude Käsebier
Here is some information and background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Käsebier

So in todays Photographic Art World we have those that try to make a Niche for themselves by picking an area and forcibly sticking to that mindset as a way of trying to stand out and away from the crowd.

I say to each their own. But to me anything that we learn in Photography is a Tool to be used if and when we need it. “Always be Prepared” like a Boyscout. Shooting in Natural Light exclusively sounds all well and good till your trying to photograph a Portrait of someone in a venue where the lighting is terrible or non existent.  To me! That’s where Artificial Light comes into play. Depth of Field can also work as a means of creating a piece of Art that separates the subject from the background. But while shooting a beautiful landscape everything should be sharp. Is anyone thought wrong? Of course Not! Being a Photographer for all these years has taught me to Use everything I’ve practiced and learned to get the job done. That’s also what being an Apprentice does for you. It teaches you to understand the challenges that may arise while shooting a session. To identify what and why something is not going according to plan/s and then to get around the problem.

For the past several weeks I’ve been speaking about Aperture for this exact reason. Depth of Field where anything outside your plane of focus will be soft. To creating something where everything in the image will not only be in Focus but extremely Sharp. Depending on what the Artist is trying to convey these are Tools to be used independent of what Camera, Brand or Value of equipment.

Like always if you find my ramblings interesting please leave a comment. If you would like to add anything to this we can have a discussion here. Just ask away. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.

I guess since I’m talking about having everything in an image Sharp. I guess I should give an example. Here is one I had shot of the Grand Teton Mountains.

Shot this while Rafting down the snake River!!!

Thanks,
Mark