Modern Photography

1. Period and Location: Modern Photography

The photography explored in this lesson dates from 1907 to 1942, as highlighted in the timeline below. You will learn about photography from various geographic locations, including the following:

• New York City—the home of Alfred Stieglitz
• Big Sur California—where Edward Weston lived and died
• San Francisco, California—where Imogen Cunningham lived and died and where Ansel Adams was born in 1902

2.The Steerage

In a previous lesson on 19th-century photography, you learned that photographers developed a style of photography called pictorials. This style imitated the style of prints and paintings to have photography be considered as a true art form. Alfred Stieglitz was part of this movement, and he devoted his life to promoting photography as an art form. In the process, he established a group known as the Photo-Secession as well as a journal known as Camera Work.

During the 20th century, there was a movement to promote photography as its own art form. Photographers captured their subjects in staged occasions known as photo sessions. Stieglitz called this “pure photography”—a concept he championed—wherein the photograph is appreciated for its inherent qualities as a medium rather than as an imitation of a painting.

The Steerage is often regarded as the first truly Modernist photograph. Stieglitz captured it during a trip from the United States to Europe and it represents a departure from the Pictorialist style that was dominant at the time, which often involved soft focus and romanticized subjects. Instead, The Steerage emphasizes sharp lines, geometric forms, and the composition’s abstract qualities, aligning it with Modernist principles.

The Steerage also serves as a social document recording the realities of immigration and the harsh conditions faced by many people at the turn of the 20th century. The image is powerful in its depiction of the class divide, contrasting the cramped, crowded conditions of the steerage passengers with the more privileged spaces above.

did you know

Stieglitz, his wife, and his daughter stayed in first-class quarters on the journey depicted in The Steerage. He remarked that he did not enjoy the company of his fellow wealthy sailing companions. On the third day of the Atlantic crossing, Stieglitz walked around the boat to the steerage, where the poorer classes traveled. In his account, he reported being struck by the man in the straw hat who looked over the railing. Chancing upon the scene without his camera, Stieglitz raced back to his cabin to retrieve it. When he returned, the man was still there. He captured the shot, and the composition was fixed in photographic history.

EXAMPLE

Below is Stieglitz’s photograph The Steerage.

terms to know

Photo-Secession

An early 20th-century movement founded by Alfred Stieglitz that involved the promotion of photography as a form of art.

Camera Work

An early 20th-century magazine published by Alfred Stieglitz that featured the artwork of the most important photographers from that period.

Photo Session

A term used to describe an occasion where a photographer will take professional photographs.

3. Pepper No. 30

In the early 20th century, a movement emerged in direct opposition to Pictorialism, known as straight photography. This approach was largely championed by the photographer Paul Strand, who drew inspiration from Cubism. Strand transformed ordinary objects into abstract compositions by using techniques like cropping, where parts of the image are intentionally cut off. His work was featured in Alfred Stieglitz’s journal Camera Work, which increasingly showcased examples of modern photography.

Straight photography diverged from the Pictorialist focus on carefully constructing compositions, instead emphasizing the purity of the photographic technique to keep images largely unaltered. Edward Weston’s work exemplifies this approach; he selected subjects like food, nudes, seashells, and other everyday objects, photographing them in ways that rendered them abstract and unfamiliar.

EXAMPLE

Below is Pepper No. 30 by Edward Weston.

did you know

Edward Weston’s Pepper #30 is a masterclass in lighting. Weston used soft, diffused light to create deep, rich shadows and smooth transitions of tone, giving the pepper a three-dimensional, almost sensual quality. The careful manipulation of light and shadow in Pepper No. 30 is a testament to Weston’s technical skill and artistic vision as a photographer and lighting designer.

term to know

Straight Photography

A style of photography focused on capturing realistic images using unaltered prints.

4. Succulent

Weston and photographers Imogen Cunningham and Ansel Adams were members of a group called f/64, which promoted straight photography over Pictorialism. It involved the unique aspect of using western American themes.

EXAMPLE

One of the first examples is Cunningham’s photo entitled Succulent.

Imogen Cunningham’s photography exemplifies meticulous attention to clear focus, sharp detail, and striking contrasts of light and shadow to frame her subjects. Her work beautifully demonstrates how a photographer’s skill can transform an image from the ordinary into high art, much like the achievements of early still-life painters.

did you know

The introduction of more portable and accessible cameras, such as the Kodak Brownie, democratized photography. This allowed more people, including women, to take up photography as a profession. The early 20th century was also a time of significant social change. The women’s suffrage movement was gaining momentum, and there was a broader push for gender equality. This environment encouraged women to pursue professional careers, including in the arts, where they could express themselves creatively and independently.

term to know

f/64 Group

A group of photographers centered around the San Francisco area who were united by their use of a similar style of sharply focused compositions.

5. The Tetons and Snake River

Arguably the most renowned photographer to emerge from this group is Ansel Adams.

Adams’s photographs of the majestic beauty in unadulterated nature brought awareness to the American public of the breathtaking grandeur of the American landscape. His work remains closely associated with the environmental group The Sierra Club, which successfully lobbied for the preservation of millions of acres of American wilderness, thanks in part to the photography of Ansel Adams. Ansel Adams’s photographs, capturing the majestic beauty of untouched nature, played a crucial role in awakening the American public to the breathtaking grandeur of the nation’s landscapes. His stunning black-and-white images of the American wilderness not only showcased the awe-inspiring scenery but also stirred a deep appreciation for the natural world. Adams’s work is intimately connected with the environmental movement, particularly through his close association with The Sierra Club. His photography became a powerful tool for advocacy, helping the organization successfully lobby for the preservation of millions of acres of American wilderness. Thanks largely to Adams’s evocative images, the public and policymakers were inspired to protect these natural treasures for future generations.