File:The American annual of photography (1914) (14800540293).jpg

Identifier: americanannualof28newy (find matches)
Title: The American annual of photography
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors:
Subjects: Photography
Publisher: New York : Tennant and Ward
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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a picture with respect to the technical qualities only,but the artistic value of a picture can be determined only bywhat it expresses. The aim to give a natural flesh tone to the face must cer-tainly be called a great progress in photography, when wethink of the former almost general malpractice in retouching;—but so far it seems to be the only aim to bring out thatbeautiful flesh tone, without any regard whatsoever for thecharacter of the person to be represented. Every passion, every soul-stirring incident in life, leaves acertain visible trace in the face of man. To truly representa highly emotional character in a picture it is necessary tobring out these traces. The true photographer must under-stand to engrave them into his negative. The most fascinating feature of portrait photography is thatthe unlimited possibilities in the application of light effectsenable you—without any talent for acting in your model—togive almost any desired character to your picture;—you can 268
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SWEET INDOLENCE. Kate Smith. make of your model a God or a Devil (there being at least atrace of each in every human being). The application of unusual lights in portrait photographyhas, in itself, little value, if there is not a conscious lookinginto, and an intense illumination of, the character of the mode)All possibilities in illumination must be utilized for the purpose of a perfect characterization,—be it to emphasize theminutest details of essential and characteristic peculiarities inthe shape and form of head or face, or—what is most impor-tant—for the purpose of bringing to view the soul depths ofa personality. All the light used in this art should effect—not only anillumination, but also a radiation. To represent, in a picture,the human face—eventually also the hands—with the skillfulapplication of all available means, and with the strictest ad-herence to truth,—that is the most important task of theportrait photographer. Those diffused and indistinct photograp

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