Web Work 5

Part A:

Paul Strand

Paul Strand was one of the establishers of photography as an art form in the 20^th century. He was born in New York City on October 16, 1890 to Bohemian parents. In his late teens, he attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, studying under Lewis Hine, a famous documentary photographer. While in school, Strand went on a fieldtrip to the 291 art gallery, run by Stieglitz and Steichen, to see the work of modern photographers and painters. This field trip encouraged Strand to later take photography much more seriously. Much of Strand’s early photographic work either experimented with formal abstractions or was used as a tool for social reform. In 1936, Strand helped found the Photo League, which consisted of photographers who wanted to use their work to promote social and political causes. Strand used his photographic talent in motion pictures as well as in still photographs. Some of his films were Manhatta (1921), Redes (1936), The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936), and Native Land (1942). Strand left America in 1949 to present his film Native Land at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, held in Czechosclovakia. Until he died in 1976, Strand lived in Orgeval, France, although surprisingly he never did learn French. While in France, Strand went back to photography and produced some of his best-known work, the six book ‘portraits’ of place: Time in New England (1950), La France de Profil (1952), Un Paese(1955), Tir a’Mhurain/Outer Hebrides (1962), Living Egypt (1969), and Ghana: an African portrait (1976).

Here is a link to a wikipedia article on Paul Strand.

Part B:

These are some photographs taken by Platt D. Babbitt of Niagara Falls. Notice that the viewing angle in the picture is the same that you would see if you went their to see it for yourself. These photographs provide a way to see the grandeur of Niagara Falls without having to go there personally. Here is a short article on Platt D. Babbit.