2 totally different approaches to portrait photography.

Last class we looked at some of the artists / advancements in the photographic world from roughly 1865 - 1900 or so.

During the second class, we discussed how Nadar used lighting to accentuate the features of his subject. One of his contemporaries, but also rivals, was another French portrait artist named Etienne Carjat. Much like Nadar he used his portraits as studies for caricatures.






portrait and caricature of French poet / artist Victor Hugo. 1867

Julia Margaret Cameron had different ideas with her portraits. She used a lack of focus in an attempt to bring out the inner character of her subjects. There were mixed views about her work; many thought they were simply unprofessional, or wrong. Why would someone make an out of focus photograph on purpose? Others were impressed with her approach and thought it was a breath of fresh air into the often stale world of portrait photography.



Cameron's niece, Julia, was a favorite subject of hers.

"When I have had such men before my camera my whole soul has endeavored to do its duty towards them in recording faithfully the greatness of the inner as well as the features of the outer man. " Julia Margaret Cameron