Pictorialist...? Who me?

Becoming a Modern Pictorialist

Pictorialism

I have always liked old photographs, especially really old ones, and my venture back into film photography (and how to edit digital photos to look old) has sparked my interest in that old photo look. I quickly and repeatedly came upon the word pictorialism to describe the style I was interested in. And the more I looked into it, the more it resonated with me.

Instead of sitting here trying to explain what pictorialism is in my own words, I think it will be easier for both of us if I let ChatGPT explain it:

Pictorialism is an approach to photography that emphasizes artistic expression and aesthetics over simply documenting reality. Emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pictorialism sought to elevate photography to the status of fine art by adopting techniques and styles reminiscent of painting, drawing, and etching.

Key Characteristics:

1. Soft Focus: Images often have a dreamy, blurred quality to evoke mood and emotion.

2. Artistic Composition: Emphasis on balanced, painterly compositions, sometimes inspired by classical or romantic art.

3. Manipulation of Prints: Techniques like hand-tinting, scratching, or layering negatives to achieve artistic effects.

4. Subject Matter: Preference for themes like landscapes, portraits, and allegorical or symbolic scenes that reflect beauty or narrative.

5. Printing Methods: Use of alternative processes like gum bichromate, platinum printing, and carbon printing to produce textured and unique images.

Pictorialism was a reaction against the growing mechanization and realism of photography, favoring a more subjective and interpretive approach. It declined with the rise of modernist photography, which valued sharpness, realism, and straightforward composition.

Yep! that’s it. As I continued stumbling around the Internet looking for more pictorialism, another term kept popping up—Modern Pictorialist. Alright, ChatGPT, what’s that about?

Modern Pictorialism refers to a contemporary photographic movement or style that draws inspiration from the Pictorialism movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While traditional Pictorialism sought to elevate photography to the status of fine art by emphasizing beauty, atmosphere, and emotional expression, modern interpretations adapt these principles using current tools and techniques.

Key Characteristics of Modern Pictorialism:

1. Artistic Focus: Modern Pictorialists aim to create photographs that resemble other art forms, such as paintings, etchings, or drawings, often prioritizing mood and aesthetic quality over documentary precision.

2. Soft Focus and Atmosphere: Much like traditional Pictorialism, modern practitioners may use soft focus, diffusion techniques, or post-processing to create a dreamy, painterly quality in their work.

3. Manipulation and Techniques: While early Pictorialists employed methods like gum bichromate printing or hand-altered negatives, modern photographers may use digital tools (e.g., Photoshop) or alternative analog processes to achieve a similar effect.

4. Subject Matter: Modern Pictorialists often explore themes of nature, landscapes, portraiture, and symbolic imagery, focusing on timeless or emotive subjects rather than contemporary trends.

Personal Expression: Like its historical predecessor, modern Pictorialism values the photographer's creative input, with each piece reflecting a unique vision or interpretation of a scene.

Yep, that’s it, that’s what I want to be when I grow up.

The above photos are the finished versions and all were shot digitally except the truck, which was shot on film. The following images are basically done, but I will let them percolate for a bit before slapping on a border and some text.

Alaska Is

I changed the name of my newsletter from Chugach Rambles to Alaska Is. While most of my photos are from the Chugach Mountains, not all are, so I needed a name that reflected that. If you lived in Alaska in the late 70s, you might remember Alaska Is.

Other News

• We had a high-wind event a few days ago, and this was undoubtedly the strongest, with up to 80mph gusts, that I’ve experienced. I’ve lived most of my life in this valley, and this is the first time I’ve had to go pick up shingles afterward.

• Speaking of high winds, the Los Angeles Wildfires have been going on for over a week now, and all I have to say about it currently is that with over 12,000 structures burned to the ground, there are only two dozen dead and another two dozen missing. I don’t mean to downplay the loss of life, but something went right there.

• Still not a lot of snow on the ground. My snowshoes have been in my truck for two months, and I have yet to wear them.

• The lack of snowpack here makes me wonder what kind of fire season we will have this summer. We have layers of mineral soil in this valley, and if it gets dry enough, the dirt will literally burn. I think if/when we have another big fire in the urban/wildland interface, I will go photograph it. My drone and the dog will stay at home of course.

That’s it for now, and thank you for being here.

Sean Mitchell

Eagle River, Alaska