A Brief History of Photography

Posted by Esther Kontny on May 15, 2020

Do you ever wonder what life would be like without the invention of photography? It has seeped its way into every aspect of life. For me, not only do I document my day and post it on social media but the very act of screenshotting something I want to remember has become a way of note-taking. In just 200 years, photography has made its way from a whopping eight hour exposure to a mere thousandths of a second click that doesn’t even need to leave its pixelated form. Allowing photographers to capture hundreds of images within minutes and tossing out all but a few.

Photography is a relatively new medium in the world. Compared to the centuries long tradition of painting, drawing and ceramics, which have roots in ancient civilizations. Lens based mediums only began to grow feet in the early 19th century. The word photography is derived from the Greek words, photos (light) and graphein (to draw). Which is where we get our definition, “the method of recording the image of an object through the action of light, or related radiation, on a light sensitive material.”1

Soon after its conception, in 1848 photography started to be adopted by photojournalists and scientists alike. Although it came with its fair share of inaccuracies, the overall information you received from a photographic image versus a realistic drawing was revolutionary. However, it wasn’t until the invention of the daguerreotype, a metal or glass plate coated in a light sensitive chemical, that photography studios started to pop-up. Many households who could afford it started to document their family and even began to consider its use in art. By the 1850s daguerreotyping became widespread in the West and followed troops into the Middle East, Asia and South America.2 

 

Once artists got a hold of the medium, endless experimentation led to several different technological advances; processes like calotypes, cyanotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes. In the mid-1850s stereoscopic photography rose in popularity, which made it possible to view photos in a 3-dimensional manor. Fast forward to the invention of celluloid roll film, in 1887, this replaced the use of metal or glass plates with a more flexible material that could be rolled or used as sheets. This propelled the accessibility of photography as we entered the 20th Century. 

As photographic societies began to form certain ideas rose of what made a photograph art. Suggestions like soft focus could produce a painterly aesthetic (i.e. pictorialism) or photographic composites where as many as 30 negatives were exposed to make one print. Parallel to this movement, key figure Peter Emerson pushed for a more softer reflection of nature with little to no retouching techniques used, known as naturalistic photography.3 And as we entered the 20th century several more photographic styles and practices began, resulting in a prolific era of photography. Producing artists like, Alfred Stieglitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham and the list goes on. 

Skipping forward to the late 1900s as the technological boom began along with the introduction of digital imaging and the internet, the world of photography started to shift in major ways. Point and shoot cameras began to replace disposables and DSLR’s replacing the more standard 35mm SLR camera. Taking out the process time and physicality of the medium, you were now able to view and share these images within the same day of capturing it. As you might have guessed, photography blew up and was now being added to mobile devices as a way to take snapshots throughout your day.

 

As a result, photography began to take a shift in the art world. Photographers were starting to be taken more seriously as new media widened what it meant to create art and photography became one of the leading mediums among artists.4 Artists like Cindy Sherman, Martin Parr and Nan Goldin became widely known around the world. Even though photography’s largely accepted as an art form in the world there are still a lot of critics who claim that it is not as serious as some of the more traditional mediums.

This is the tension photographers still live with, that in the midst of its widespread accessibility in the world we still have to fight for its worth. That in the era of pixels and the ephemeral nature of the internet, photography has to work to be long-lasting. There is a generation of photographers choosing to return to old photographic practices to feel more connected to the medium. The evolution of photography has led to a more hands-off process, which for an artist is not enough. Some have decided to focus their  attention into the post-processing aspect of images within the wide range of large format digital cameras. While others have decided to return to the roots of photography, discovering the magic of a darkroom. This resurgence cannot be separated from a fast approaching post-digital era.

To see work from some of our emerging photographers, visit our galleries.

Written by Esther Kontny

 have any questions? chat with us now

Cedar Waxwing taken by Clint Murchison

Posted by Jacob Hawthorne on May 15, 2020

Schmidt Fine Art Gallery is extremely proud to present another photographic piece by resident artist Clint Murchison. Any outdoor enthusiasts alike will find Murchison’s approach, creativity and, ability to shoot wildlife as organic, seamless and tranquil.

We are excited and pleased to offer this latest work entitled Cedar Waxwings which is another demonstration of the artists fine tuned technical ability that has taken multiple years to hone and perfect. This piece is of course capturing the sheer beauty of the Cedar Waxwing bird.

The Cedar Waxwing is a medium sized bird that is typically brown, grey and yellow. The bird received its name thanks to its waxlike wings. Most notably the tips of the wings often appear shiny, or like they’ve been treated with a resin of some sort.

The Cedar Waxwing is native to north and Central America, venturing to the open woodland that Canada offers during breedings season, then migrating back to the states. The shiny wings of this bird make it a particularly interesting creature to both observe and snap with a camera, especially in different surroundings, and lightings.

The particular Cedar Waxwing that features in this shot by Murchison is perfectly poised with almost ruler straight lines dividing the color transitions that occupy its body. The black diamond that accentuates the birds eye is outlined with a subtle rim of white.

The body of the bird gradually fades to a darker tone, graduating in a gradient form toward middle Center of the shot. The highlights and accent colors of red and yellow are present at the tip of the Cedar Waxwings tail feather and inner wing.

As always, Murchison is on hand to delicately deliver an acute angled shot that positioned the bird Center frame. The eye is drawn straight toward the bird, and then reassesses the space occupied around the shot - the branches with appear in and out of focus.

The clear blue sky that sits at the back of this image accentuates all that appears in front of it. The branches appear at the front and back of the shot creating a 3-dimensional angled image that jumps out at you.

The bokeh that Murchison captures in this shot offers a symbolic resemblance between that of a regular portrait shot one might get from visiting a photographer. This bokeh effect amplifies the subject - in this shot, the Cedar Waxwing - and merges the background into the subject to create a seamless, transient shot that captures both the spirit of the outdoors, the innocence of nature and presence of Murchison all in one seamless shot.

The ability to shoot wildlife subjects in such a manner relies heavily on the skill of the photographer. Though these shots might look simple to take, or perhaps appear as if by coincidence, finding the Cedar Waxwing is one mission, but shooting the bird in such an elegant way is a totally different skill capacity.

There are few artists more qualified to take such a shot than Clint Murchison. Having been a practising artist all his life, life long Arkansas resident Murchison has both an eye for the perfect shot, as well as the artistic ability to frame, manipulate and extract the most breathtaking images you could possibly imagine from our very own natural surroundings.

In order to capture the tranquil nature of the outdoors you must capture the beauty of natural. The hardest part of shooting the wild is becoming one with the subject that you are shooting. Often time sensitive, shots like this require the upmost skill, attention to detail and patience.

Of course when shooting a photograph in the wild you are capturing a moment in time that will never be experienced again. The transient temporalities of past, present, and future cascade into one - a beautiful waltz amplifying a sense of connection between planet, human, and nature that has all to often been missing from the 21st century society.

We recommend this particular shot printed on an 8 x 12 slate. We use the best acrylic inks to make sure that are prints offer solid, vibrant color as well as a long lasting life span. The slate will look great in older country homes and pairs well with old wooden interiors.

The juxtaposition between the muted slate that offers with its rough hard edges and the soft image of the Cedar Waxwing work extremely well when paired together. Our slates our available as coffee table decorations, ornaments for around the house and are also hangable on your walls.

Bring nature into your home with another one of Murchison’s iconic shots. However, if you’re after a more subtle look for a wall hanging, or perhaps a gift for a loved one, friend or family member perhaps consider visiting our customization shop where you’ll be able to print the Cedar Waxwing shot onto a plethora of different objects ranging from phone cases all the way to calendars.

This piece is available in our ready to hang art selection and in our Customization shop. 

Learn More about Client Murchison

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Great Barrier Reef

Posted by Jacob Hawthorne on May 16, 2020

Do you love the ocean but live in city? Perhaps you’re inland and unable to access the coast regularly or you simply haven’t had time to take a vacation. For anyone who loves the ocean - its wonder, awe and of course its inhabitants - being away from it for extended periods of time can be damaging. 

However, Schmidt Fine Art Gallery are happy to help. Here at the Gallery we take pride in being able to bring the wild, untamed, unknown in doors. We are striving to inspire, captivate and of course please our clients with our latest line of photographic prints. We carefully curate a selection of hand picked shots that best show the true beauty of our planet and offer them to you as prints to hang in your house as well as a range of other printable accessories and everyday objects. 

The ocean is of course the most obvious unknown known planetary eco systems that still leaves humans puzzled. I have always held the belief that the ocean has the ability to “set you straight” as it were. Just smelling the salt water is enough to brighten mood, lighten my day and feel at one with the world. 

I’ve always wanted to live by the sea and this year I got my opportunity. Now, thanks to Schmidt Fine Art Gallery you don’t have to pack your bags take a vacation or even leave your house to get the spirit of the ocean. 

GBR Clown Fish & Anemone is an acrylic print, shot with an under water camera documenting one of the worlds greatest natural wonders. The Great Barrier Reef is of course a household name stay. When the words are said in conversation or written down and your eyes gloss over them the ocean and all its wonder pops straight into your head. 

Schmidt Gallery are offering you the chance to house a piece of this earthly treasure in your home through one of our luxury acrylic prints. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism known to man. Spanning a radius of 133,000 square miles, featuring over 900 islands and more than 2,900 individual reefs it is a breath taking piece of history that everyone should experience. 

The Great Barrier Reef is also home to many exotic sea creatures as well as the beautiful reefs. In this particular shot we managed to capture a pair of Amphiprion Percula drifting through a section of the reef. 

These beautiful fish are often mistaken for the Clown Fish. However, the Amphiprion Percula is a separate species altogether. They are normally 8cm long when fully grown, though some grow up to 11cm in length. 

They are easily distinguished by their body colors. The bright luminous orange body is fragmented by three white lines that divide the fish into three parts, however there are no obvious color distinction that separate genders.

In this particular shot both the fish are looking directly into camera framing the shot perfectly. The ambiance of the ocean is documented accurately by the way the background can be seen to move. The reef looks like its in motion as the fish glide past. We do recommend buying this print in a larger size so you get the full effect and detailing that the reefs have to offer. 

Then brightness of the fishes bodies counteract and stand apart from the darker tones that pair in the foreground of the image. The yellow reef stands out tall, appearing to move further away as the Amphiprion Percula move closer into the shot.

The subtle layering of this shot makes you feel like you’re inside the print. With this print you get a rare shot of the Great Barrier Reef, but you also get a moment in time inside the ocean. 

We all to often forget what its like to be one with nature. Seeing nature wonders, creatures and life often makes us pause and reconsider what is important in our daily lives. We live in times were we more detached from nature than ever before. 

Here at the Schmidt Gallery we are trying to remove this detachment, create bridges, and bring the extraordinary into your life everyday. 

Like all our current prints on offer, GBR Clown Fish & Anemone is available in a wide range of sizes ranging from 5x10 to 80x40. We recommend this piece in a larger size since the imagery is highly detailed and the larger image size makes it easier to become lost in the image. 

This piece is perfect for your home, holiday home, or as a gift for anyone who loves nature, the ocean and the earths wonders. As with all our prints we use the highest acrylic inks to ensure we capture every microscopic grain of detail in our shots. 

This particular piece was shot using an underwater camera in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, located just off the east coast of Australia. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in this piece but not sure about sizing, where to hang this piece of how to complete your order don’t hesitate to contact one of our team at the gallery via the website. 

Visit our main website to view more of our ready to hang art, if you prefer to chose the frame and format for your wall please go to our customization tool.

have any questions? chat with us now