Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography

[Collas]

A new exhibition is now on at Tate Modern in London.

Light, camera ⦠razor blades?! How photography became an art form â in pictures

A new exhibition – which the Guardian gave five stars – tells the story of the birth of art photography. Here are some of the most astounding images, along with tales of the strange techniques that made them

www.theguardian.com

More about the exhibition here:

Light and Magic | Tate Modern

www.tate.org.uk

 

[Nas]

Looking forward to hearing some reviews from anyone who visits. I find the Tate ticket price a turn off.

 

[AnalogueWendy]

I'm a bit put off by the ticket price too, but I may hold my nose and visit in November so I'll let you all know. (ps. Those enlargers came from the former Oxford community darkroom !)

 

[YorkshireBloke]

A well informed friend enjoyed the exhibition and said he would visit again with anyone on our little WhatsApp group.

The FT Weekend review was excoriating - 2 stars, said the main theme of the exhibition didn't stand up, and only ancillary images saved the whole show.

Wish I could visit exhibitions often enough to form my own views - as it is I need critical advice...

Robert

 

[Matt Bigwood]

The Times gave it a three out of five review last month. Here's the final paragraph of the review:

Though the presentation is disorientating, the photographs themselves are often hauntingly beautiful and there’s certainly no lack of variety, from a staged, spotlit Teacup Ballet by the Australian photographer Olive Cotton to Alfred Stieglitz’s stark yet sympathetic photograph of passengers on the steerage deck of a ship. Edward Weston’s photograph of a shell, all sheen and contour, transforms a natural object into something like a sculpture by Brancusi, while Fan Ho’s prints of Hong Kong nightlife are lit like scenes from a Hollywood musical. But I kept coming back to Long Chin-San and his miraculous photographs of sfumato mists and sketchbook mountains.

 

[Nas]

Can anyone who has been to this exhibition confirm whether the Gloria Swanson portrait of her looking through black lace is in the exhibition? I believe it’s by Steiglitz. Thanks.