How to start collecting photography
Are you a photography lover and interested in collecting?
With a relatively recent and rich history of pushing the boundaries of art, photography remains an exciting frontier for experimentation and expression. Being an art form as diverse as it is widespread, thanks to its accessibility and the variety of tools and techniques available, this artistic format is full of enthusiastic followers. Want to start collecting photography? Read on to learn the magic behind this often mystified medium.
How was photography invented?
The beginnings of photography come from the “camera obscura”, a box (or entire room) with a small hole that allowed rays of light to project an upside down image outside on the opposite wall. Although this phenomenon has been used since ancient times, it was not until 1826 that the French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce was able to produce the first known permanent photograph. In 1839, Niépce's partner, Louis Daguerre, unveiled a faster process, which produced a sharp and unique image on silver-coated copper, known as a daguerreotype. Already at this time in England, William Henry Fox Talbot developed the paper-based calotype process, which produced photo negatives that could be used to print multiple copies of an image. In 1888, George Eastman introduced the first portable roll film camera, the Kodak, putting the power to capture an image in the hands of the general public. What followed was a boom technological and artistic.
The Turn to the Twentieth Century: Is Photography Art?
In the early 20th century, artists such as Alfred Stieglitz and Henri Cartier-Bresson began to produce aesthetically conscious images in order to elevate photography. However, during this time of economic difficulties, some of the most famous photographs were not created under the guise of art photography, but documentation. For example, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans worked with the US government to document Americans affected by the Great Depression, capturing moving images that still resonate with audiences today. The boundary between fine art and vernacular photography (the use of photography in scientific, advertising, personal, and political environments) makes the medium an instigator for conversations about what art can be.
What are the techniques and terms used in photography?
— Analog is an umbrella term for film, as opposed to digital photography, which allows an infinite number of pictures to be taken and easily edited.
— Black and white photos can be produced with film or digital techniques for timeless style.
— Gelatin silver printing involves the use of fibrous paper coated with silver halides suspended in gelatin, a common process for black-and-white film photography in the 20th century.
— C-Type, or chromogenic prints, are made from photographic paper exposed to color negatives.
— Cyanotype photos use chemicals that create images of Prussian Blue when exposed to light.
— Double exposure refers to overlaying multiple exposures to create layered images.
Photography invites artists to critically engage with the medium, largely because of its supposed ability to capture objective reality. Conceptual artists like Jeff Wall use photography to question the very notion of a true image, creating elaborately staged and highly edited photo montages that viewers perceive as real.
Also involved with issues of prejudice and objectivity, many famous photographers such as Nan Goldin and Carrie Mae Weems use the medium to explore underrepresented identity and communities through portraiture and figurative work. In addition to the human figure, photographers also explore nature and the landscape. An example of this is the Portuguese photographer Pedro Narra who has traveled the world capturing photographs of natural life. From New Zealand to Rwanda, from Australia to Guinea-Bissau, the Portuguese artist shows the beauty of the animals that inhabit these territories in a unique way. Its journey began with the Sado dolphins and more recently, in the same place, it carried out the Wild collection on the plants involved in the walks and between the stones. in an interview Pedro Narra said about this collection: “I gave them the prominence, the beauty, that I thought I should give them.” His works have won several awards, such as those developed on the island of Poilão, in the Bijagós archipelago, which won third prize in the SOS Endangered Species category - Photo reportage in the 5th edition of the Nature Images Awards 2015 competition - a series of photographs about the conservation work for green turtles in that Guinea-Bissau archipelago.
All the information you need to collect photography
At P55.ART we always advise our customers to buy what they love. Given the immediate impact of photography, falling in love with photography is easy – look for the subjects, places and ideas you are passionate about, and you are sure to find photos that will delight you. Photography is a great entry point to an art collection. As they are often produced in editions, photographs can be purchased at affordable prices. Furthermore, their production process offers flexibility in terms of size, scale and materials on which they are printed.
There are some practical considerations and terms to be aware of so you can shop for the format that works for you:
Paper: A classic option, paper prints can be framed.
— Paper prints can be printed in a variety of finishes, including matte, glossy, or glossy.
— Giclée is a term often used to describe inkjet pigment-based printing on archival paper.
—Borderless Print are borderless printed and can be mounted to the edge of a frame for a stylish and dramatic impact.
— Paper should be framed behind UV-proof glass and displayed in low-humidity areas, away from direct sunlight.
Metal: Photos printed directly onto metal produce modern, durable displays that can range from a matte finish to a glossy finish.
Plexi-Mount: Prints mounted behind acrylic plexiglass also make for stylish, durable displays.
Ready to collect?
Discover the next addition to your art collection today with P55.ART's vast selection of original photographs from emerging and established artists from around the world.