Sharing a Quote from Berenice Abbot {Omaha Professional Photographer}

You know that I have an affinity for quotes.  I came across this one today:

"...people say they need to express their emotions I'm sick of that. Photography doesn`t teach you to express your emotions it teaches you to see." - Berenice Abbott - Art News, January 1981

Berenice Abbot was an American Photographer (1898-1991) who was known for (amongst other things) her black and white photography of New York City architecture, "Changing New York".  The images within this documentary project span over a 10 year period. 

You can view some of her work and read more about this talented artist here.  Funny enough, there is a rather long quote once you enter her gallery in regards to pictorialism.  I find that very interesting considering my last post was A Salute to Pictorialism.  Abbot, according to the quote, felt that pictorialism was a hinderance to photography because in her opinion "....Photography can never grow up and stand on its own two feet if it imitates primarily some other medium. It has to walk alone. It has to be itself.”

I encourage you to take some time to view her work.

A Salute to Pictorialism {Omaha Professional Photographer}

I have a friend who is really into pictorialism.  She peaked my interest and so I thought I would give it a whirl.  This, of course, comes with my new love and appreciation for a vintage feel in photographs.  If you've been following along on this blog or my fanpage, you know I am really really really into that vintage look right now.

What is pictorialism?  In short, it is a technique used to give images soft, painterly, romanticized qualities. You can find a short article explaining pictorial photography by Paul Hooge here (be sure to scroll down).  Some photographers who used this technique (in no particular order) are: Clarence H. White, Alfred Stieglitz,  Henry Peach Robinson and Robert Demauchy. 

Here is the pictorial portrait I created and wanted to share with you on the blog. :)