Early 20th Century Photography
In the
early 20th century, artists began to use photography as a new form
of art. Many people were quick to reject the idea of photography as an art
because it uses a mechanical device to produce “art” and they were unable to comprehend
how a photograph can convey the photographer’s vision and feelings when it is
just an image of a subject and nothing more. In time, however, people were able
to see how the camera can be an instrument for personal expression and symbolic
communication. A few decades after the invention of the camera, photographers
began to bring public attention to the suffering caused by World War I and The
Great Depression. They believed that a photograph can bring about empathetic
awareness that no other medium could, which will in turn lead to reform. Ansel
Adams was an environmentalist who used his photographs to increase public
awareness of the need for conservation of nature. In his photograph “Mount
McKinley and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska,” the contrast of the
black hills and the black sky emphasize the beauty of the mountain and the
lake. Because of the stark contrast of black and white, the photo has a
spiritual quality to it. His photograph expresses his idea that nature is pure
and it needs to be protected.
Beautiful..
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