Alfred Stieglitz: Photography As An Art Form

"The arts equally have distinct departments, and unless photography has its own possibilities of expression, separate from those of the other arts, it is merely a process, not an art."  Alfred Stieglitz

The Richmond Times Dispatch recently ran an Associated Press article about an upcoming exhibit of images by Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1964).  The article primarily focuses on the exhibit in New York City.  While Stieglitz is considered one of the masters of photography, there is much more to the story of his life.  Stieglitz was also an inventor, author, collector, patron, and owner of art galleries.  Most importantly, he was a tireless promoter of photography as an art form.


In the early 1900s, many considered photography more as a process than an art form.  It did not have the elevated status as painting or sculpture.  In 1902, General de Cesnola, the founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, scoffed at Stieglitz's suggestion of considering a photograph as a piece of art.  It wasn't until 1928 that the Metropolitan exhibited a collection of photographs as art!  All of the photographs were pieces Stieglitz had collected over the years.


Stieglitz published and edited three different photography magazines.  In each, he showcased the best photographers of his day.  He was meticulous in using the latest reproduction and printing techniques in order to best display the images.  Stieglitz also owned three different galleries in which photographs were prominently displayed with other forms of art, including works by Rodin, Picasso, and Matisse.  In later years, he focused primarily on American artists.  In fact, he was one of the first to champion the works of Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe (who later became his second wife).


So, while he was an accomplished photographer, he is much more known for his contribution to the visual arts.  Many consider him one of the most important figures in the history of American art.  As a photographer today, I must applaud Stieglitz's tireless effort!


For a sample of his photography, below are two hyper-links.
George Eastman House 
Metropolitan Museum

Beach Portraits

Rob Marshall Studio will be at Emerald Isle next week!  If you are nearby and would like to sit for a beach portrait, please contact me.  There will be a special promo code to receive an additional 10% discount on your order (does not apply to the sitting fee).

In addition to the usual portraits, I am available to take more casual shots of your family at the beach.  The kids playing in the sand or boogieboarding and skimboarding.  Surfing or surf fishing.  Whatever you and the family enjoy at the beach!

You can reach me via email at info@robmarshallstudio.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Virginia State 9 Ball Championship

Rob Marshall Studio will be taking pictures at the 2010 Virginia State 9 Ball Championship this weekend, July 17-18.  The event is promoted by Virginia State Pool and Billiards and hosted by Diamond Billiards in Midlothian, VA.  This year, sponsor Inside Pool Magazine will offer free live streaming from the championship and pro Max Eberle will provide commentary.

The championship is a qualifier for the U.S. Open 9 Ball Championships held in Chesapeake, VA.  New this year, the State Championship has opened the field to women.  Three players will receive free entry into the U.S. Open, the top woman finisher and the top two men finishers.  Also, the purse this year is $10,000!

Rob Marshall Studio will post all images by Monday evening, July 19.  Images from the event will be available for sale.  In addition to the usual price break discounts, there will be an additional 10% discount for orders received by end of the day July 31.  A special promo code will be provided to enter with your order to receive the discount.

To view images from last year's championship, click on the following links.

http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=4942714
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=4942715

I hope to see you at the championship!

The Future of Blues Music?

Here is an interesting article from the Personal Journal section of today's Wall Street Journal.  Author Jim Fusili laments that "today's blues music isn't only steeped in the past; it's anchored to it."  In his view, new interpretations of the blues are not well received.  Thus, the blues music is not gaining a broader audience.

Here is a link to the full article.

What do you think?  Do we need to update blues music for the future?  Or, is it necessary to stay "anchored" to the past?

Sports Photojournalism

Anyone interested in sports photos of you or your family? I am available for your club, high school, or little league. For samples of my work, follow this link to an album on the Rob Marshall Studio Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126919&id=51647160624&saved#!/album.php?aid=126919&id=51647160624

As some of you may know, I was a partner in Marshall Sports Media. My business partner (his name is also Marshall) and I were the official photographers for UVA Men's Rugby club and the official photographers of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Invitational (ACI) Rugby Tournament. In addition, we provided images and game recaps for Rugby Magazine online.

Marshall Sports Media is not active now. But, Rob Marshall Studio is available! And, now that some warmer weather has arrived in Richmond, I have the urge to shoot some more sports action.

So, if you know of a group or school in the Richmond area that would be interested, please contact me. Also, my rugby images from matches in October 2008 through March 2009, including the 2009 ACI in Tallahassee, are available for viewing. Go to my website, www.robmarshallstudio.com. Click on "Store" - the galleries are listed by date.

Ernst Haas: Pioneer of 35mm Color Photography

Ernst Haas (1921-1986) was born in Austria, but later moved to NYC. He was a pioneer in color photography. Among his many accolades, he was a photographer for Life magazine.

One of his well know projects was the Creations series of photographs inspired by Genesis in the Bible. (link to these images: http://www.afterimagegallery.com/haas.htm) A friend of mine has the entire series in his house. They are absolutely stunning! In fact, this is what led me to learn more about Haas.

"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE." This quote from Haas is one of my favorites. While we know that better camera gear can make it easier to capture certain images, there is no substitute for the artist's vision. Below are a couple of interesting musings from Haas. These, and more, can be found at The Ernst Haas Estate, http://www.ernst-haas.com/estate.html.

Let me know what you think.

Haas On Photography
"Photography is a bridge between science and art. It brings to science what it needs most, the artistic science, and to art the proof that nothing can be imagined which cannot be matched in the counterpoints of nature. Through photography, both artist and scientist can find a common denominator in their search for the synthesis of modern vision in time, space and structure. We can write the new chapters in a visual language whose prose and poetry will need no transition.

"The camera only facilitates the taking. The photographer must do the giving in order to transform and transcend ordinary reality. The problem is to transform without deforming. He must gain intensity in form and content by bringing a subjective order into an objective chaos. Living in a time of the increasing struggle of the mechanization of man, photography has become another example of this paradoxical problem of how to humanize, how to overcome a machine on which we are thoroughly dependent....the camera.....

"In every artist there is poetry. In every human being there is a poetic element. We know, we feel, we believe. As knowers, we are like the scientist relating through logical determination. As feelers, we are like poets relating the unrelated through intuition. As believers, we are only accepting our human limitations. The artist must express the summation of his feeling, knowing, and believing through the unity of his life and work. One cannot photograph art. One can only live it in the unity of his vision, as well as in the breadth of his humanity, vitality, and understanding....

"There is no formula-only man with his conscience speaking, writing, and singing in the new hieroglyphic language of light and time."

Haas on Vision and Taste
"I looked at an apple for such a long time until it became the first apple I had ever seen. I was so excited that I called a friend to tell him my experience. But how could I find the right words for what I had experienced? How could I describe my visual sensations with such literary words..... Anyhow, I did not find the right words, and my friend did not believe me. So, I ate the apple, as I have eaten many an apple before. It was a fairly good apple.

"I called my friend again, telling him I just ate a fairly good apple, and he understood me immediately. Conclusion: in visions we are alone, in taste we can be together. All I try is to find my inside images in the outside reality.

"A picture can be an answer as well as a question but if you can't answer your questions try to question your question. There are clever questions and stupid answers as well as stupid questions and clever answers. There can be questions without answers but no answers without questions. To be or not to be-that is a question. To see or not to see-that is an answer."

New blog for Rob Marshall Studio

Hello, world! Rob Marshall Studio now has a blog! Follow the blog for upcoming events and promotions. Also, stop by to talk about photography, pool/billiards, and music. Or, any other topics. But, please refrain from profanity as I have some younger family that might stop by. Also, I prefer we keep politics out of the discussion on this blog.

Hope you enjoy the blog and stop by often.