I enjoy square images, yours included. After I bought my 120 film camera in the 90s, it took on a wonderful seeing. As I mentioned, I met and talked with Imogen Cunningham in the 70s, and decided to try square 120. I like your part about the chaos in locale you were trying to photograph. After photography school, when I met Imogen, I went to a university film school. I got a bad head injury and had to stop. Within the chaos of repairing my brain, I didn't photography for about ten years. I felt I had lost me seeing in the brain fog. The 120 camera square images took on a life of its own. The chaos seemed manageable withing each frame and seeing more enjoyable. Though the tension of sorting through chaos to come out with a satisfying image is so nice. Seeing the unseen that most people miss.
I am glad you’ve found yourself back with photography, because I find it such a wonderful tool to observe the world around us in ways others might not. My love for the square format came when I purchased a cheap russian twin lens (Lubitel) that took 120 film. It requires a different way of seeing than a 35mm camera, but I love it. Now, I have a small digital compact camera (Ricoh GR3x) which lets me choose square as a format. I need to use it more often, though!
The 120 camera I bought was a '60s German camera like Imogen Cunningham used. It had it's cumbersome side to it, like loading film on the fly, but was an intriguing sculpture of sorts to me. But part of my ongoing brain therapy became teaching myself digital aspects and got a Nikon. The brand I used in film photography school, now digital. The brain struggles continue, but the photography tools are nice to navigate, and art work soothes.
Excellent, excellent post. I also greatly admire Imogen Cunningham. Beyond everything you've written, she seemed to always be joyful about what she was doing, and she uttered my favorite photography quote of all time (favorite so far, at least). When asked the question in an interview, she said: “Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
Yes, that quote is great too! I imagine her as a funny and witty person. I saw photos where she was fooling around with Ansel Adams. I am glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you for your feedback!
Nicely done. I became interested in photography at university en route to an art history degree. The course was called 'female photographers of the 20th century'. There are many and they are great! I have often wondered whether it is fair to say that Imogen Cunningham had a particular way of approaching photography, subjects, or composition that reflect her gender vs. her great experience and technical skill?
Personally, I try very hard to go to exhibitions and galleries to look at photography without reading any of the text on the wall, or the titles of the images (if any). I try to just let the photograph work its magic and I do my best to absorb this experience. To me a great photograph usually transcends things like gender, age, ethnicity and cultural background. A great image stands on its own and has its own vibration.
Thank you for your comment, Søren! I approach exhibition or photo books in the same manner. First, I let the photographs speak to me. But if there is text, I will usually read it afterwards, because it usually enhances my experience with the photographs.
You need to check out the book I made for my company Girlgaze. There sadly aren't any other books that show the next generation of female photographers, so we made one !
There is a great resource, Luli Primavera, on FB (I cannot find another way to get at her posts), who's entire page is devoted to 20th century female photographers. For anyone on FB, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/luli.primavera.10
I have learned about SO many amazing photographers through her!!!
examples:
Janine Wiedel (b. 1947)
Gita Lenz (1910 -2011)
Claudia Andujar (b. 1931)
Myra Albert Wiggins (1869 - 1956)
Abisag Tullmann (1935 - 1996)
Lotte Meitner-Graf (1899 -1973)
Ruth Orkin (1921- 1925)
Ursula Schulz- Dornburg (b. 1938 )
Anita Conti (1899 - 1997)
Iryna Pap (1917 -1985)
Louise Boyle (1910 -2005)
Janette Delaney (b. 1955)
Edith Tudor-Hart (1908 -1973)
Sheila Metzner (b. 1939)
Cecilia Mangini (1927 -2021)
Oh, I could go on from her posts. They are so thorough in that they provide the many photos made by each!!
That's SO COOL!!! What a great idea!!! And I love how your shots turned out. You're really inspiring me! Now to actually get out and photograph, right?
I loved your article. As the family picture taker, for most of my 75 years, it was I who was left with all the "shoe boxes" from both sides of my family. I get so lost in sorting through photos and finding ones that will make wonderful restorations. I have gotten to know both my parents, their parents and their friends from the days before any of us children were on the scene. My dads side of the family were taking photos of gatherings and family vacations since about 1900 as near as I can determine. My goal is a photo book or a collection of books and this has always been my goal. However, I get so absorbed and enjoy the resulting nostalgia of my photo collection that little headway is ever realized. Your article took me away once more and I can't wait to open that drawer (actually 3 drawers) and pick up where I left off. Thanks so much for sharing your photo experience. Bob
Hey Bob! Thank you so much for your comment. What a wonderful idea to make a photo book (or several ones). Although I love the physical act of digging through the boxes of old photographs, I can see why it makes sense to make a book. And I can feel the excitement about that project in your writing. Have fun with the drawers!
I have seen lots of Weston’s work but only recently heard of his day books and now here you are, with this excellent piece. Beautifully done, thank you so much!
I enjoy square images, yours included. After I bought my 120 film camera in the 90s, it took on a wonderful seeing. As I mentioned, I met and talked with Imogen Cunningham in the 70s, and decided to try square 120. I like your part about the chaos in locale you were trying to photograph. After photography school, when I met Imogen, I went to a university film school. I got a bad head injury and had to stop. Within the chaos of repairing my brain, I didn't photography for about ten years. I felt I had lost me seeing in the brain fog. The 120 camera square images took on a life of its own. The chaos seemed manageable withing each frame and seeing more enjoyable. Though the tension of sorting through chaos to come out with a satisfying image is so nice. Seeing the unseen that most people miss.
I am glad you’ve found yourself back with photography, because I find it such a wonderful tool to observe the world around us in ways others might not. My love for the square format came when I purchased a cheap russian twin lens (Lubitel) that took 120 film. It requires a different way of seeing than a 35mm camera, but I love it. Now, I have a small digital compact camera (Ricoh GR3x) which lets me choose square as a format. I need to use it more often, though!
The 120 camera I bought was a '60s German camera like Imogen Cunningham used. It had it's cumbersome side to it, like loading film on the fly, but was an intriguing sculpture of sorts to me. But part of my ongoing brain therapy became teaching myself digital aspects and got a Nikon. The brand I used in film photography school, now digital. The brain struggles continue, but the photography tools are nice to navigate, and art work soothes.
I am sorry to hear you are still struggling, John! All the best to you!
Love the chair theme. Who woulda thought that chairs could say so much?
Thank you, David. They probably don’t say much to a lot of people, but I find them quite interesting.
Excellent, excellent post. I also greatly admire Imogen Cunningham. Beyond everything you've written, she seemed to always be joyful about what she was doing, and she uttered my favorite photography quote of all time (favorite so far, at least). When asked the question in an interview, she said: “Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
Love it! Thanks for choosing to write about her.
Yes, that quote is great too! I imagine her as a funny and witty person. I saw photos where she was fooling around with Ansel Adams. I am glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you for your feedback!
Nicely done. I became interested in photography at university en route to an art history degree. The course was called 'female photographers of the 20th century'. There are many and they are great! I have often wondered whether it is fair to say that Imogen Cunningham had a particular way of approaching photography, subjects, or composition that reflect her gender vs. her great experience and technical skill?
Personally, I try very hard to go to exhibitions and galleries to look at photography without reading any of the text on the wall, or the titles of the images (if any). I try to just let the photograph work its magic and I do my best to absorb this experience. To me a great photograph usually transcends things like gender, age, ethnicity and cultural background. A great image stands on its own and has its own vibration.
Thank you for your comment, Søren! I approach exhibition or photo books in the same manner. First, I let the photographs speak to me. But if there is text, I will usually read it afterwards, because it usually enhances my experience with the photographs.
Agreed. Always interesting to see if the 'intent' on the wall matches what you fell and see in the photographs. That is half the fun! ;0)
You need to check out the book I made for my company Girlgaze. There sadly aren't any other books that show the next generation of female photographers, so we made one !
Sounds fabulous!
Great article. Thanks for writing it.
Thank you so much, Gillian! Glad you enjoyed it!
There is a great resource, Luli Primavera, on FB (I cannot find another way to get at her posts), who's entire page is devoted to 20th century female photographers. For anyone on FB, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/luli.primavera.10
I have learned about SO many amazing photographers through her!!!
examples:
Janine Wiedel (b. 1947)
Gita Lenz (1910 -2011)
Claudia Andujar (b. 1931)
Myra Albert Wiggins (1869 - 1956)
Abisag Tullmann (1935 - 1996)
Lotte Meitner-Graf (1899 -1973)
Ruth Orkin (1921- 1925)
Ursula Schulz- Dornburg (b. 1938 )
Anita Conti (1899 - 1997)
Iryna Pap (1917 -1985)
Louise Boyle (1910 -2005)
Janette Delaney (b. 1955)
Edith Tudor-Hart (1908 -1973)
Sheila Metzner (b. 1939)
Cecilia Mangini (1927 -2021)
Oh, I could go on from her posts. They are so thorough in that they provide the many photos made by each!!
That is a great recommendation, Andi! Thank you so much!
That's SO COOL!!! What a great idea!!! And I love how your shots turned out. You're really inspiring me! Now to actually get out and photograph, right?
Exactly!
Ordered The Daybooks of Edward Weston. Thank you for the remarks!
Wonderful! Thank you for reading!
Beautiful small book of winter!
Right on! Love this. Love love love this.
Awe, thanks Donn! It's so good hear that!
Great topic. I got to see some of the Steidl Robert Adams titles at Dashwood in NYC this week, they are beautiful. So happy to see this video!
I think Paul Graham's A Shimmer of Possibility is an evolution of the kind sequencing you talk about in RA's work
Yes, Paul Graham is definitely one of the masters of this. Unfortunately I don‘t own any books by him, so I couldn‘t use him as an example.
I loved your article! Thank you
Thank you, Manolis! Good to hear it resonates with you!
I loved your article. As the family picture taker, for most of my 75 years, it was I who was left with all the "shoe boxes" from both sides of my family. I get so lost in sorting through photos and finding ones that will make wonderful restorations. I have gotten to know both my parents, their parents and their friends from the days before any of us children were on the scene. My dads side of the family were taking photos of gatherings and family vacations since about 1900 as near as I can determine. My goal is a photo book or a collection of books and this has always been my goal. However, I get so absorbed and enjoy the resulting nostalgia of my photo collection that little headway is ever realized. Your article took me away once more and I can't wait to open that drawer (actually 3 drawers) and pick up where I left off. Thanks so much for sharing your photo experience. Bob
Hey Bob! Thank you so much for your comment. What a wonderful idea to make a photo book (or several ones). Although I love the physical act of digging through the boxes of old photographs, I can see why it makes sense to make a book. And I can feel the excitement about that project in your writing. Have fun with the drawers!
Love it. Love your willingness to be personal and vulnerable. Trying to learn it myself.
Alex
Thank you, Alex! This is the way to grow and learn for me.
I have seen lots of Weston’s work but only recently heard of his day books and now here you are, with this excellent piece. Beautifully done, thank you so much!
I really appreciate your feedback and it‘s good to hear you enjoyed reading it!