Photography

Black and white photography is today one of countless photographic techniques and yet it was as at one time, the only type of photography available. This is the reason why it often tends to be associated with historical works and a vintage feel. In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered how to print images onto metal plates. When he died in 1833, Louis Daguerre, followed by Francois Arago, continued to develop his research, resulting in the invention of the daguerreotype which consisted of an image printed onto a silver plate when exposed to the light. Together they invented photography. The first black and white photos began to appear. Initially used for research purposes, photography started to spread as daguerreotype studios opened everywhere. Black and white portraits immortalised the faces of the upper middle classes and would later be used to capture all members of society. Celebrities were also a popular subject choice and many photographers specialised in taking their portraits, as Jean-Loup Sieff did all throughout his career almost a century after the invention of photography. The first coloured photographs soon followed. The technique was invented as early as 1860 but was not put to use until a century later. In the meantime, many unforgettable artists began to demonstrate their talents for art photography. Street photography, for example, was a key trend during the 20th century, with major photographers such as Robert Doisneau, Brassi and Henri Cartier-Bresson capturing the urban landscape of the time. All three were masters of taking candid photos. They succeeded in making fleeting moments last forever in monochrome images. Sometimes humorous, sometimes romantic, or even just a little bizarre, they take us back in time to days gone by. Looking at such rare and fragile moments can be like going through old postcards from the past, and although we enjoy looking at them, they can provoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. In the United States, the humanist Walker Evans led the way for black and white photography, capturing the daily life of modern America with his analogue camera, whether it be in the New York subway or on the highways of the Deep South. A little later, Robert Frank photographed the faces of America and the American people with his remarkable black and white shots, recognisable thanks to his highly distinctive photographic technique and composition. Black and white photography isn’t just limited to representing daily life. As Ansel Adams demonstrates, it can also be used to capture the most magnificent landscapes. Black and white images are ideal for long-exposure photography, as the combination of the two makes it seem as if time is gently floating by. Michael Kenna and Arnaud Bertrande are two examples of photographers who excel in this domain. It is easy to be fascinated by how perfectly the two colours complement each other in certain images. We often associate black with a sense of sadness and nothingness whilst white is suggestive of light and hope (although the Western signification of the colour white contrasts with that of other cultures, for example in Japan, white symbolises death). The combination of the two shades highlights the contrast and accentuates the shapes in the image with elegance and simplicity. It often draws our attention to a rather unique subject and our perception of it can vary depending on the chosen shades and centring. It is often used to create a sense of nostalgia and history to convey a timeless message that seems frozen in time. Travel back in time with Artsper’s collection of black and white limited edition art photographs, available in big and small formats, from artists including Brno Del Zou, Bert Stern, Ellen Von Unwert, Karl-Martin Holzhäuzer, Wang Wusheng, Lee Jeffries and Hervé Gloaguen.We also recommend Herve Hall’s images of the Brooklyn Bridge and the beautiful sepia photos of the Eiffel Tower by Jean-Paul Lubliner.

In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered the process for setting images onto pewter plates. In 1833, upon Nièpce’s death, Louis Daguerre and François Arago continued his experiments and invented the daguerreotype, a process which created a printed image on a silver plate that had been exposed to light. Photography was born. Similarly to how portrait painting had dominated artistic output in previous centuries, portrait photography was to become the pillar of the Second French Empire’s photographic industry. Lenses with a shorter focal length, which enabled reduced exposure times, gradually appear on the market. The required equipment was expensive and difficult to handle. Some photographers, called daguerreotypists, decided to open their own photography studios to make a profit from their endeavours. The daguerreotype process was temperamental, and photographers had to take their pictures with great precision and attention to detail. They welcomed many people into their studios and customers choose how they wished to be photographed from catalogue of poses. Originally only accessible to the bourgeoisie, lower prices resulting from the growing number of studios eventually attracted a wider customer base. This phenomenon infuriated the poet Charles Baudelaire who was frustrated by the sense of narcissism sparked by the daguerreotypists. Despite his protests, the egotistical trend only grew with the emergence of ‘carte de visite’ portraits (small photographs, the size of today’s business cards). These were the brainchild of Adolphe Eugène Disdéri came up with the idea of producing portraits akin to visiting cards in 1859. He printed eight portraits in a variety of poses onto a single plate and once developed they could be cut up into eight distinct “visiting cards”. Very popular with the bourgeoisie, they highlighted the sitters’ social status. ‘Carte de visite’ portraits featuring celebrities were also sold to customers, who could subsequently add them to their albums. The photographer Nadar was one of the first to demonstrate a conscious artistic approach to producing these portraits. He emphasised facial expressions and ensured the sitter was comfortable and at ease before taking the photograph. He photographed the era’s greatest thinkers and artists, including Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, and Victor Hugo. He even managed to reconcile Baudelaire with portraiture. At the end of the 19th century, the art of photography started to enter the mainstream, with the arrival of the Kodak company. The use of the camera, and the taking of portraits, became everyday occurrences. A century later, it was the invention of the digital camera which challenged the status quo. Whereas before alterations could only be made to photographs when they were being taken or developed, with the digital camera editing became easier, quicker and more convenient. Digital photography has given photographers much more freedom when it comes to editing and new methods and techniques are constantly being explored. Some of the photographers who have left their mark on the last century include: Cindy Sherman, who excelled in self-portraits, Annie Leibovitz, who captured celebrities, the wacky duo, Pierre and Gilles, as well as Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, and Bettina Rheims. So, do portraits help us to learn more about each other, to remember, to invent, to act, or to reconnect with ourselves? Find out on Artsper, by exploring the works of Formento & Formento, Naomi Vona, Ahmed Bennani, Chou Ching Hui, Samuel Cueto, Brno del Zou, Ren Hang, Markus + Indrani, Jerome Liebling as well as Annina Roescheisen.

In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered how to print images onto metal plates. When he died in 1833, Louis Daguerre, followed by Francois Arago continued to develop his research, resulting in the invention of the daguerreotype which consisted of an image printed onto a silver plate when exposed to the light. Together they had invented photography. Unlike paintings of nudes, which had long been considered an artistic discipline, nude photography was first used for scientific or educational purposes. Art schools often provided anatomy courses and photography became an increasingly popular means of representing the human body. In Orsay, photographs of nudes were found with squares traced onto the bodies in order to more carefully study their proportions and make them easier to reproduce through drawing. At the beginning of the 20th century, magazines began to publish photographs of nudes. L'Etude Académique, for example, published nude photographs aimed at replacing life models in painting. When it first appeared, photography was not considered an art form; it remained anonymous and was thought of as a tool for artists to represent the human body. However, less scientific uses had been explored and a few years earlier, many erotic magazines had been published despite censorship. The male nude, less widespread than the female nude, first appeared in photographs by Albert Londe, Thomas Eakins and Vincenzo Galdi, taken outdoors and capturing men as representations of young ephebes. In the 1930s and 1940s, photographers of the time, including Man Ray, Jean Ferrero and Gregor Arax, created more virile and sophisticated images. Contemporary nudes take on many forms. One might expect them to be exclusively erotic but in reality, photographers approach the human body in a number of different ways. True to his style, Jeff Koons, chooses sexual provocation, creating pornographic scenes. Spencer Tunick brings together hundreds of naked participants to create striking images. As for Peter Joel Witkin, he explores the nude using the horrific and the bizarre. Among the masters of nude photography are Nan Goldin and her decadent photographs, Araki, specialising in black and white, Anders Petersen and his images of intimate scenes, as well as Robert Mapplethorpe with his minimalist and distinctive staging and composition. In 1970, nude photography was fully accepted and there were even magazines specialised in the subject. Artsper features photographs by Bert Stern, Ren Hang, Eric Ceccarini, Maurice Renoma, Dani Olivier and Laetitia Lesaffre.

In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered how to print images onto metal plates. When he died in 1833, Louis Daguerre, followed by Francois Arago, continued to develop his research, resulting in the invention of the daguerreotype which consisted of an image printed onto a silver plate when exposed to the light. Together they had invented photography. The first ever photographs began to appear. Initially used for research purposes, photography started to spread as daguerreotype studios opened everywhere. Black and white portraits immortalised the faces of the upper middle classes and were later used to capture all members of society. Celebrities were also a popular subject choice and many photographers specialised in taking their portraits, as Jean-Loup Sieff did all throughout his career almost a century after the invention of photography. In the beginning, taking a portrait or even the simplest of family photos required a great deal of preparation and time in the studio. However, key technological developments brought about the invention of more compact cameras including the Leica and later the digital single-lens reflex, which meant shorter exposure times and made it easier to produce a greater number of photographs. These advances also helped contribute to the development of the genre of everyday life photography, which became more popular at the end of the Second World War and focused at first on photographing wealthy or urban families. Families, couples, communities... artists were interested in everyday moments (marriage, lovers kissing, children's games). The simplest of moments in life were seen as the most important and were immortalised in film as testaments to the beauty of human life. Some of the great photographers made a name for themselves in the genre. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, David Goldblatt, Martin Parr and Vivian Maier are only a few of the artists associated with everyday life photography. Vivian Maier is an American photographer who was born in 1926 in New York. A professional nanny in Chicago, she spent her spare time photographing the world around her and produced around 150,000 photos. Having remained anonymous throughout her artistic life, her genius and photographic accomplishments were finally recognised publicly in 2007. Cofounder of the Magnum Photographic Cooperative in 1947 alongside David Seymour and Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a pioneer of photojournalism but also an excellent photographer in a more artistic sense. He revolutionised photography by working with incredibly lightweight equipment. He didn't use a tripod or a darkroom and treasured a sense of immediacy when taking photographs. He believed that “above all else, the camera is a sketchbook". Henri Cartier-Bresson's photographic technique is unique and unmistakably recognisable. He never photographed with flash and only worked with natural light, something which was highly characteristic of everyday life photography. Often in the same black and white image, the subjects coexist together but are not centred. His framing, focus and depth of field all help us to see the simple beauty of everyday life that he so exquisitely enhances. Artsper has a range of everyday life photographs for you to discover, including works from Cartier-Bresson as well as many other artists, whose photos reveal the precious moments of the everyday lives of men and women from around the world.

Artists and photographers in particular never cease to be inspired by nature's abundance and awe-inspiring landscapes. Large, green open spaces, the savanna, forests, prairies and even the bottom of the garden have all been sources of inspiration. Professionals and photography lovers alike continue to try and immortalise Mother Nature, in all her forms. Today, landscape photography has become an art form in its own right. Whether it be aerial, underwater or even macro photographic, this artistic form of expression takes you on a journey far away and delights your senses thanks to the array of sensational colours, sublime compositions and its exceptional use of light. Ansel Adams was one of the pioneers to write the rules for landscape photography. In the 20th century, he invented the 'zone system' with Fred Archer, a technique which allows the photographer to have greater control over the image's contrast and exposure. An ecologist who was ahead of his time, the depth of field that Adams uses in his shots forces us to face how fragile the natural world is and how it deserves to be protected. Although portraits have dominated photography since its very invention, interest in landscape photography has gradually increased as the world has continued to open up. In its early days, it was highly standardised and took its inspiration from the Impressionist movement, striving to capture the landscape's atmosphere. After the First World War, as technology improved, landscape photography became more realistic and artistic depending on the photographer's vision. By playing around with the centring, photographers can create a sharper or more blurred effect. Landscape photography quickly became more widespread with the arrival of digital cameras which allow the photographer to capture the image without losing any of the finer details: a sunset, the heaviness of a dense mist, animal fur, the droplets on a flower petal…It is easy to understand why certain artists have spent their lives trying to immortalise the mystifying magic of Mother Nature and have incessantly continued to improve their photographic techniques. The discipline requires a lot of patience in order to capture the perfect shot with the right lighting. The photographer has to be quick when seizing the moment as it certainly doesn't last forever. Nature doesn't have time to wait around! It is essential for the photographer to have an excellent technique and an extensive knowledge of various photographic processes in order to achieve the desired effect. Some photographers even spend several hours taking photographs before feeling satisfied with the final image. Among the most famous landscape photographers, you will find Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Philip Plisson, Jim Bradenburg, Yasmin Mund, Paul Nicklen, Franco Fontana, Nathalie Annoye, Nick Brandt and Andreas Gursky. They have each developed their own unique and distinctive style. Nature is the ideal subject for exploring a particular pictorial style. Many artists have ventured into the art form, travelling the whole world looking for outstanding images. These include the sociological and philosophical questionings of Rero, the poetical images of Aida Pascual, the light-filled beaches of Massimo Vitali, the world viewed from above by Pawel Mlodkowski Vincent Munier's mysterious wolves. Discover these and many more in our selection of landscape photographs and discover our flower photography or mountain photography. Perhaps you might also be interested in seeing some magnificent images of our planet's wildlife? Discover wildlife photography as you have never seen it before, with Brad Wilson's collection of bird, reptile and wild animal photos.

The photographs of icons offer a glimpse in the often-unconventional lives of celebrities. Rock stars, actresses, or presidents: these photographs are stolen moment of their private lives. They are emotional images, particularly interesting for their historical and documentary value. On Artsper you might discover Tony Frank or

“Art is continually haunted by the animal," wrote Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in the 70s. Indeed our animal friends make frequent appearances in artists' works, especially photographers. Animals are a pervasive source of inspiration and can be found everywhere: open spaces, the savannah, in meadows, or even your back garden. Both professional and amateur photographers do their best to capture the diversity of wildlife and many travel the world hopeing to come face to face with some of the rarest species. Wildlife photography has now become an art of its own, made famous by documentaries and magazines such as National Geographic and Terre Sauvage. By using photographic techniques such as aerial or underwater shots, this artistic practice incites us to travel and let our mind wander to breathtaking landscapes or mountain and exceptional lighting. The genre started to develop well after the invention of photography by Daguerre in 1842. Back then, even taking a simple portrait was a major undertaking. At the end of the 19th century, a photographic safari was often a full-blown expedition, with a team of porters handling the heavy equipment. The long exposure time required to fix the image onto a plate made it very difficult to capture animals as they were elusive and didn't stay put for long, especially in their natural habitats. For this reason, wildlife photography only gained more traction 100 years later when faster shutters speeds made it easier to photograph moving animals. Nonetheless, some of them takePolaroid as well. Today, technological progress makes it possible for photographers to capture galloping horses and speedy cheetahs from far away. However, photographs still need to arm themselves with patience and the ability to stay discreet if they hope to get the perfect shot of the world's most stunning wildlife. So how do photographers capture the intensity of wild animals? Wildlife photography is a very demanding discipline and there are several techniques which enable photographer get the widest angle and best framing possible. Camouflaging techniques are used to enable the photographer to get as close as possible to the animal. Similar to snipers, the wildlife photographer uses elements of nature and wears camouflage print to not disturb the animal, win its trust, and be able to get the right shot at the right time. Photographers might also choose to leave a camera hidden and control it remotely. Infrared systems, powerful lenses and automatic flash all help the photographer work from a distance. The preparation is done well in advance and requires a perfect knowledge of the animal's habits in order to obtain impressive images. Nature is an ideal playground to explore one's artistic style. Many artists travel around the world trying to capture exceptional shots of unique animals. Famous wildlife photographers include Bence Maté, who captures photos of birds such as hawks in flight, as well s Jim Brandenburg and Nick Brandt. On Artsper you will find beautiful images by Clément Reisky, Pierre Schwartz, Brad Wilson, and many others. Explore our unique selection of animal photographs by some of the greatest photographers.

Abstract photography, also sometimes known as experimental photography, is the art of creating a visual effect with an image that has no immediate attachment to reality, by using processes like focusing, framing, or retouching and editing the photograph in post-processing. For example, an abstract picture can sometimes isolate a fragment of an ordinary image to remove it from its original context and give it a surrealist edge. It can also involve playing with blurring, shadows or lighting, textures or unexpected forms. The image is often created with traditional photographic material (analog or digital cameras, dark room, computer). However, artists can also manipulate and alter the film in order to achieve the desired effect. The first images known as “abstract photographs" appeared shortly after the invention of photography in the 1830s. In 1842, John William Draper created a new type of images with a spectroscope. This machine dispersed light beams and produced a phenomenon that was previously invisible to the eye. The negatives he produced had nothing in common with the works of other photographers, and they opened the way for innovative photographic works. Draper perceived these images as a scientific discovery, not as artworks, but today his method is widely acclaimed by critics for its inherent originality. In England, Anna Atkins was also a pioneer of abstract photography; she was the first one to place dry algae on cyanotype paper. This scientific experiment improved photographic techniques by creating unique blue and white images. Moreover, the discovery of X-ray and radioactivity in 1896 provoked a fascination for the invisible and many photographers were immediately drawn to these phenomena. French photographer Louis Darget attempted to capture mental processes by pressing unexposed plates to the foreheads of his and trying to get them to project images from their minds onto the plates. He carried out thousands of similar experiments. It was only during the 20th century that abstract photography truly became recognised as an artistic practice. Surrealism and cubism started replacing impressionism, especially after the Salon d'Automne in 1903 in Paris. This event highlighted new talents like Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp… Ten years later, in New York, Wassily Kandinsky, Mondrian, Braque and Delaunay shocked audiences. The freedom coming from abstract art inspired some of the greatest photographers to break the rules. Erwin Quedenfeldt exhibited the first abstract photographs in Cologne in 1914. From 1920 to 1930, Europe became the epicenters of conceptual photography with artists such as Jaroslav Rossler, Josef Sudeck, and Rössler exploring abstraction. Post-processing became more central to photographic works in the 60s and the 70s, with artists like Josef Newman. Eventually, the growing popularity of computers in the 90s and the 2000s opened up infinite possibilities for creating original work. Some contemporary photographers like Peter Klasen, Dominic Harris, or Nicolas Dubreuille combine photography with other mediums. Find them all on Artsper with our unique selection of abstract photographs.