In defense of pictorialism in the digital age
Apr 30, 2019 09:32:13 #
Some new thoughts on an old debate from Andy Romanoff. Personally I think he misses some of the point of the f/64 movement, which was not against darkroom manipulation or image adjustment, depending on the photographer's motivation in so doing. I think you have to go back to the times to see what pictorialism in the 1920s was all about.
If you go to the article, be sure to click through to Romanoff's linked work and other articles. He's an interesting, and generally well-regarded artist. Some of our post processing experts may find quite a bit of interest in examples of "digital pictorialism".
https://medium.com/stories-ive-been-meaning-to-tell-you/even-ansel-adams-had-a-blind-spot-eb784703fcfc
Andy
If you go to the article, be sure to click through to Romanoff's linked work and other articles. He's an interesting, and generally well-regarded artist. Some of our post processing experts may find quite a bit of interest in examples of "digital pictorialism".
https://medium.com/stories-ive-been-meaning-to-tell-you/even-ansel-adams-had-a-blind-spot-eb784703fcfc
Andy
Apr 30, 2019 09:43:59 #
AndyH wrote:
Some new thoughts on an old debate from Andy Roman... (show quote)
Thank you for posting that! If I had the talent and the knowledge to make images such as those used in the article, I would go full steam ahead to produce them. Art is art.
Apr 30, 2019 10:20:36 #
Apr 30, 2019 17:19:57 #
I think those that keep knocking Post Processing should take note...
May 1, 2019 13:31:18 #
An interesting link - many thanks for that. I’m definitely a ‘believer’ - long live the final image - and who cares what it started life as?
May 1, 2019 15:18:15 #
AndyH wrote:
Some new thoughts on an old debate from Andy Roman... (show quote)
Good one, Andy. Inspired me to learn more about the pictorialists. And I liked Romanoff's pictures - great variety in his work! Thanks for posting.
As much as I like and admire Ansel Adams' craftsmanship, there is a certain sameness to his work that reduces the intellectual and emotional impact for me. I often wonder if there are others that feel that way. Of course saying anything negative about Adams is heresy and probably gets you drummed out of UHH 😕 ....!
May 1, 2019 17:27:47 #
I think at the time, the f64 group were making an important statement in saying that photography could be art on its on terms of rendering sharp details, without trying to make it look like drawings or paintings. Now that photography has long since been accepted as an art medium, it is easier to look back and realize the best pictorialists were artists also.
May 1, 2019 19:58:13 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
I think at the time, the f64 group were making an important statement in saying that photography could be art on its on terms of rendering sharp details, without trying to make it look like drawings or paintings. Now that photography has long since been accepted as an art medium, it is easier to look back and realize the best pictorialists were artists also.
That’s the takeaway for me too.
Andy
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