"Mr. George Bernard Shaw wrote an article a few years ago, in which
he conclusively demonstrated the unmechanicalness of photography, and
expressed opinions that brought forth prompt and profuse apologies from
photographers and the photographic press. He was most generally assailed for
a statement that if Velasquez were living today he would be a photographer
instead of a painter; and by way of adding another photographer's apology for
this statement, I will have to go Mr. Shaw one better on the same point and
insist that Velasquez could hardly become more of a photographer today than
he already was in his own time, except that he would surely use the camera
today.
It is strange that we should so carefully cherish the fallacy
that photography began with Daguerre's discovery; as far as the shareholders
of the Eastman Kodak Co are concerned, there is no doubt about this being
true, but from the standpoint of pictorial art, photography dates back to
earlier days...........
Photography and photographers have had the imitation of other
mediums clapped on their heads at almost every step in their development and
in their seeking to make pliable a medium which seems on the surface entirely
mechanical;......"
Eduard
J . Steichen .
Written ninety years ago it could have been refering to the
stalwarts of ALT Photo 1997. Thank goodness for the diversity of excellent
processes which have been developed since then for commercial printing and
publishing as well as techniques for individual use. But may the personal
vision of the artist persist as it always has done.
Regards. Photographist - John Grocott (London UK)
Royal Photographic Society E-mail address. info@rpsbath.demon.co.uk