Alfred Stieglitz: Photographer By Doris Bry
The book is about Alfred Stieglitz's photographic style through the years of his working life. The author categorizes his photos into three main periods. His early period (he discovered photography at the age of 19 and made a 24 hour exposure which effectively refuted the necessity of daylight in photography) consists mainly of prints in Europe and NYC. The Photo-Secession era (a group founded by him whose aim was the advancement of pictorial photography) includes mainly photos of NYC. And his later years (when he was finally free from the strain of constant exhibitions) was almost entirely in NYC at Lake George. I really liked the quick and to the point excerpt about Stieglitz. It made reading about him quite enjoyable as I didn't have to sift through random facts. What I didn't like about the book is how much wasted space was on the majority of the pages. I wish the author had written about the photographs on their name pages instead of leaving them blank, void the name and date. I really liked Stieglitz's photographs, and I also really liked how convicted he was to his craft; he never let anyone tell him he couldn't do something. My favourite photos of his were 6. Reflections- Night (New York) 1896, 13. A Portrait (I) 1918, 31. Helen Freeman 1921, 55. From an American Place, Looking North 1931, and 61. Porch with Grape Vine, Lake George, 1934.
The book is about Alfred Stieglitz's photographic style through the years of his working life. The author categorizes his photos into three main periods. His early period (he discovered photography at the age of 19 and made a 24 hour exposure which effectively refuted the necessity of daylight in photography) consists mainly of prints in Europe and NYC. The Photo-Secession era (a group founded by him whose aim was the advancement of pictorial photography) includes mainly photos of NYC. And his later years (when he was finally free from the strain of constant exhibitions) was almost entirely in NYC at Lake George. I really liked the quick and to the point excerpt about Stieglitz. It made reading about him quite enjoyable as I didn't have to sift through random facts. What I didn't like about the book is how much wasted space was on the majority of the pages. I wish the author had written about the photographs on their name pages instead of leaving them blank, void the name and date. I really liked Stieglitz's photographs, and I also really liked how convicted he was to his craft; he never let anyone tell him he couldn't do something. My favourite photos of his were 6. Reflections- Night (New York) 1896, 13. A Portrait (I) 1918, 31. Helen Freeman 1921, 55. From an American Place, Looking North 1931, and 61. Porch with Grape Vine, Lake George, 1934.
