By Paul Goldfinger MD, Editor Blogfinger.net
This image was made with a Leica M-10 Monochrom camera—a technology newly introduced 10 years ago. This camera, and there is now more than one model in 2021, marks a new era in photography. It only records black and white images. Ironically, for many years, there was only black and white. Kodachrome was introduced in 1935. Digital cameras became popular around 2000.
Technology (digital) has now taken over the craft, but what we have is a new tool, not a new idea. It’s always been about making photographs.
And this has been the case since the invention of photography about 1830 when inventor William Henry Fox Talbot made his first images at Laycock Abbey, a 14th century former nunnery in England. So someone said to young Bill, “Take thee to a nunnery” and he did.
In the end, it was the recording of light on light sensitive material, and the image was “developed” with chemicals. Other inventors in Europe also were working on related ideas.
One of Fox Talbot’s first photographs was of an oak tree. Since then camera technology has evolved far into the digital age, but the same basic ingredients were used to make my palm tree photo above: We have a composition, a focused subject, an exposure of light on a light sensitive material (a sensor,) and then digital processing.
I used to use chemicals in my darkroom, but now we do it all digitally. In the end, the goal has been to create a tangible pleasing visual result. Tastes change as well as work-flows. For many years, there was a debate as to whether photography was a true art form, but eventually that was settled in the 1970’s with gallery openings, photography books, and museum shows.
Art is found in the result, not in the method. Remember the art seen on the walls of caves in France, the points of light by Seurat, and the chalk drawings on a sidewalk by a child?
Many of us like to create art in one form or another. We tend to be drawn to it. I have loved photography since I was a child. If it is admirable art, it will entice the viewer to see or hear and then to experience some sort of emotional and/or meaningful response.
I notice that the Asbury Park Press, a newspaper previously known for its fine photography department, has now gone into the wholesale photo business, and their art has suffered from commercialism.
They ran a photo essay last summer consisting of about 50 beach scenes in Ocean Grove. The images are mostly devoid of character and boring. You can buy those photos from the paper.
But on Blogfinger we are trying to combine a variety of inspirational art forms including poetry, photography, music, painting, and the spoken word.
Grovers who do art should consider sending samples for posting on Blogfinger.
LEA SALONGA AND BRAD KANE. “A Whole New World” from the Broadway show Alladin. From the album Julie Andrews Selects Her Favorite Disney Songs.
Dr Goldfinger’s lucid commentary helps us to understand and appreciate his art.