W/NW Pictorialism - share your pictorial photos

[Larry Cloetta]

Nice shots Helen, Peter, Lynn, Robert, everybody.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I have many ways of greatly misunderstanding the pictorialist movement, but here's one...

 

[goamules]

As the owner and user of most of the Pictorialist lenses used during the era, and somewhat of a scholar of their works, looking at this thread I can say most are precisely what the movement was all about.

 

[goamules]

5x7 tri-x, B&L Portrait Plastigmat

 

[EliasK]

R3M_Poly_Rdnl_29-11-10_02 by Elias__K, on Flickr

 

[rhl-oregon]

@Helen: no, that’s the ghost of my RF645 (Zenzanon 45/4 lens). Just sold it.

 

[rhl-oregon]

One more from a grim and (happily) departed holiday season—RF645, 45/4, FP4 double exposure.

 

[Austintatious]

Vivitar Wide & Slim
Days gone buy #3 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

 

[peterm1]

When I read the definition of pictorialism: "An approach to photography that emphasizes beauty of subject matter, tonality, and composition rather than the documentation of reality......" it made me realize this is more the philosophy of photography that suits me rather than any other. And that it matches what I said on my Flickr page about my preferred approach: "The artistic approach to photography demands not technical perfection, but commitment to creating mood........A photo should not just be an image of place, it should aim to convey the essence of a moment."

Nice to know it actually has a name.

I have begun the process of exploring it more - in both color and the original monochrome.

Pictorialism Portrait by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Skyline Impressions South Bank Melbourne by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Waterwall at the National Gallery 2011 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

 

[Mcary]

Old Voigtlander 6x9 folder exposure bulb+ 3 flashes from a single flash unit.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Just curious, did you get that^^^on the first take? She’s good at only moving the parts that were supposed to move, that’s for sure.
Nicely done, you too, Peter.

 

[Mcary]

Just curious, did you get that^^^on the first take? She’s good at only moving the parts that were supposed to move, that’s for sure.
Nicely done, you too, Peter.

If I remember correctly I shot two or three rolls of film so between 16 and 24 exposures out of which I got maybe three or four good ones.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

 

[Larry Cloetta]

5x7 tri-x, B&L Portrait Plastigmat

That's really nice.

 

[lynnb]

R3M_Poly_Rdnl_29-11-10_02 by Elias__K, on Flickr

Gorgeous image. Same goes for goamules's 5x7 portrait - nice work!

 

[peterm1]

Gorgeous image. Same goes for goamules's 5x7 portrait - nice work!

Elias K's image is very nice. Two thumbs up.

 

[lynnb]

Summer along the Yarrangobilly river in the alpine area of New South Wales within the Kosciuszko National Park. The area is well known for its caves and hot springs. It snows here in winter.

Yarrangobilly river #6424 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr
5D and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM processed in LR6.

 

[Guth]

Looking at the images in this thread convinces me that there is great misunderstanding of the Pictorialist movement.

I'm guessing that I'm not the only one hanging out around here hoping to learn a thing or two. I see a number of B&W images which would seem to disqualify them (?). What else are you referring to? Please share.

 

[Guth]

on the Way Home...another Fallen by Helen Hill, on Flickr

While I'm somewhat confused as to what qualifies as Pictorialism, this is certainly a captivating photograph.

 

[lynnb]

Think of Pictorialism as the polar opposite of the f/64 Group...

One of my favourite Pictorialist photographers is Japanese photographer Yasuzo Nojima. His early works (known as kaiga shugi shashin), such as Muddy Sea (1910) capture the style very well, in my opinion. He later went on to a more modernist style. As an aside I can also recommend his nudes, which are simply beautiful.

Pictorialism tried to express emotions and artistic interpretation rather than the precise technical reproduction accuracy that photography was (and is) capable of.