Last time I talked about building a photographic library and looking at books. Now I want to talk about paintings. I’ve written here many times that we as photographers can learn a great deal from looking at paintings. That’s right … paintings … most of which are in beautiful color! I know, the vast number of paintings are not monochromatic (however there was a very nice black and white watercolors), so as black and white photographers, what’s the point?
Just to be clear, I’m no expert on paintings and those who have painted them, but I love to go to exhibits. I’m lucky enough to live a few minutes away from the Michener Museum of Art here in Doylestown and I go there often. I also have an easy drive to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and have become a frequent visitor. I even go to New York, Boston and Washington, DC to see shows. The reason for all my visits to view the work of great painters is simple. As a photographer, I can learn a lot about light and composition from viewing great paintings. But that’s not all. I also learn a lot about presentation (horizontal vs. vertical), subject matter and perspective of view (think normal vs. wide angle or telephoto lenses).
A number of years ago I saw a wonderful exhibit of the great Bucks County painter Daniel Garber at the Michener. Garber has one of the most incredible senses of light I have ever seen and I have often taken students to the museum to see many of his wonderful paintings that are in its permanent collection. Why? Because as beginning photographers they can learn a lot about all the things I mentioned above! But here’s the thing … you really need to actually go to see the paintings! You cannot get the full appreciation of the sense of light unless you are standing in front of their work!
Ok, so what about looking at exhibits of color photographs? Nah … not the same. I feel differently about color paintings than I do about color photographs. Paintings seem to have a depth and luminosity that color photographs lack … especially digitally created ones.
Final thought … go and look at paintings … lots of paintings, but my favorites by far are the works of the impressionist masters. I’m a sucker for them. You want to learn about light … more importantly the feeling of light and composition related to light … go see impressionist art!!
Stay well,
Michael
You should look at the drawings of one of my favorite artists, Georges Seurat.
He was the originator of pointillism painting (Sunday in the Park). His black conte crayon drawings, in my opinion, are absolutely incredible. Check him out.
Thanks Jeff!!! I wasn’t aware of this and will check it out!
Best,
Michael
Well, what about the old saw about scratch a photo and you will find a painting, something like that? Well, I like painting too but I don’t know much about it. Except I have read maybe one or two books about it, one Robert Walser’s “Looking at Pictures,” Walser the great Swiss writer, mostly of short stories. But I think I don’t agree that color photos exhibited can’t be fantastic, although I must say I have not seen too many actual actual color photos hanging on walls. I would perhaps say as far as color photographers, Raghubir Singh is about my favorite, his color work is amazing. But then thinking again about Robert Bergman who did the book A Kind of Rapture, and those photos supposedly done with a simple film camera but maybe somehow manipulated later — are amazing portrait photos. And I almost called them documentary photos but after reading this article I decided not to include that word. Because of an exhange on NPR, it seems, included here if you care to delve into it. I only wish using either color or black and white, I could make portraits like Bergman, Arburs, Friedlander, Sander, etc — but maybe some of mine are up there. But this little exploration was good, and I will be more aware of what I am doing. But sometimes I think I am completely unaware – and therefore, with straight photography, it’s pretty much up to the camera. But digital doesn’t look all that natural for me but now using a little digial as I am on the road. But shooting some film too. https://www.patreon.com/posts/further-on-62820767
Paul, thanks for weighing in and sharing the link. Impressive!
Best,
Michael