The genius of photography

The genius of photography…
(1918-1940) – The turning point for photography. – The great war. Germany and Russia.
The revelation..
Workers – August Sander > Sanders work was described as “Pregnant with something we can’t speak about” – BBC documentary – The genius of photography Episode 2..

Nazis couldn’t understand the reason behind the photography..

Farmers – 1876-1964..

Took photographs of different farmers just outside Cologne.. Finished in the 1930’s due to Nazi’s coming into power. He strapped his camera to his bicycle and snapped photographs around the country side.

Later on in life the Nazis forced August Sander to destroy all his work and in prisoned his son until he agreed to give up his photography.
His son took photographs from in side prison and then sent them out to his farther to publish.

He took photographs of Jewish prisoners and manipulated the photographs so they appeared to be happy working with Germany. Later on the Nazis arranged for a painted to edit the photographs so the people in them disappeared.

He then moved on to working along side with the idea of head shot photography..

His main focus was people.

He took photos of everyday Germans, Nazis and Jews.

He arranged them all into small squares and layered them up. They were described as single individuals who had been locked away in their own cells.

Nazi’s made him destroy this work by colouring and cutting out the faces of all the people he photographed. That did not fit the German criteria. e.g.: Blonde hair and blue eyes, pale skin… or German.

They later on arrested him too and he died before the day he was supposed to be released.

People went to him for immigration photographs to get in and out of Germany during the Nazi period.

When his son died they made a mask of his face.

Sander used the mask for one of his projects to represent preserving what he had lost due to the Nazi’s.

Bernd And Hilla Becher – Revived August Sanders methodical approach in the 1960’s..
Began photography in the 19th century..

They initially started taking photos of industrial buildings because Bernd was interested in making paintings from them.

Blast furnace Heads 1970’s

Enjoyed taking photographs of water towers and furnaces.

Donavan Wylie:
Took photographs of army watch towers.

He has access to army helicopters which he used to his advantage to gain height on his images.

Enjoyed taking photos of watch towers that were being knocked down.

He loved the different structures and proportions of each tower.

Alexander Rodchenko – Russian Photographer.
First photographer to work with the Leica camera. Which was a portable camera.

It allowed him to use abstract angles instead of using “Belly button photography”

Accidentally propaganda.

Took photographs of 1920’s old fashioned Paris

1891-1956

His photographs were described as so eye catching they were used in propaganda. They were used to persuade.

Atget – Used old fashioned techniques. (Aligiman) – Processed in the sun not in a dark room.
Mark Harworth-Booth said “Behind the times” – BBC documentary, Disc one episode 2. The genius of photography.

Photographers were more personal

Lots of meaning behind them

His photographs had different understandings from different angles

He took photographs of things that didn’t cross the minds of others.

“The power of nature against architecture:”

Man Ray..
Photograms and Rayograms.

Worked along side Lee Miller

She structured the idea of turning the light on for a split second while developing. – accident

surrealism

“Dust breeding”

Made people look robotic and metallic

“A camera was not a tool but an instrument to discover dreams”

He worked along side Atget for a short period of time.

 
(Worked with Dannii)