You don’t take a photograph, you make it. –Ansel Adams
Take a step back in time and enjoy the craft of photography from the days of film cameras. As taking pictures has evolved into an everyday affair, we may appreciate just how difficult it is to achieve an image that is powerful enough to stand out. Today digital photographers have the benefit of computer manipulation to add layers of complexity and intrigue, but past analog photographers dealt more with the physical constraints of the real world to interpret their pictures. From the mechanics of a camera, to compositional traditions, technical intricacies, and experimental film forays, we’ll discuss why and how traditional photography earned its way into the echelons of fine art. The unique aesthetic ideas of photographers Alfred Stieglitz, Bernice Abbott, and Henri Cartier-Bresson will help us understand differing visions. We’ll also admire the works of other master photographers and ponder their interpretations, techniques, and intrinsic value. A variety of cameras will be on hand to give you a chance to see the tools of the trade. and we’ll end the evening with a discussion of how to take your own better pictures.