a palm frond in the backyard
If you’re not into photography you may have never heard of Paul Strand, but this man helped establish photography as a legitimate art form in the 20th century. That’s pretty impressive. And so much so that I was eager to watch John Walker’s documentary: Strand, Under the Dark Cloth. Passionately devoted to humanity, back in 1917 Strand said, “if one were to use photography honestly, he must have a real respect for the thing in front of him.” Oh, how true.
When I first viewed his work it was his soft focus or his “fuzzy Romanticism” that caught my attention. But it was watching this documentary that I enjoyed seeing the transition in his work over the years. Walker provided plenty of Strand’s most famous photographs, film clips and incredible interviews with friends and collaborators.
As photographers we can all learn from the masters…and the importance of having that “respect for the thing in front of us” and capturing the unusual from the usual.
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Bella’s 52 Photos Project this weeks calls for a black and white conversion!
I love the early photographers- amazing what they achieved ,considering their equipment.I have just read about Alvin Langdon Coburn and Paul Strand and his work for the “Camera Work”. Will try now to watch the documentary.Thanks
And I have read about Paul Strand and Stieglitz recently … once I was so lucky to spend a week in East Hampton with lots of (original) pictures of Stieglitz, Steichen and Paul Strand, each one of them more beautiful than the others. Thanks for the reminder!
That thing in front of you, Robin, is what continually sets YOU apart!
BTW, I keep forgetting to tell you I’m halfway through Jan Phillips’ book! I LOVE it.
gorgeous image, robin! and really resonating with the idea of respecting the thing in front of us.
mmmm…
I love this image. The detail and the texture and the light. I love the detail and how we need to slow down to see what is around us.
thank you so for this post and image and your words about Paul Strand. So Inspiring
and Walker’s film: http://youtu.be/dP5YTqqoAqA. I stumbled upon you via Bella’s 52 photo, so glad I did.
sounds like a rewarding documentary to see. beautiful photo.
Thanks for those thoughts on Strand. My favorite is Ansel Adams. I can only dream of ever doing ONE picture that would be half as good as his worst one. =) Love your palm frond. Wish I still lived out there where I could find one in the backyard.
Thanks everyone! This is what I so love about photography!