Famous

My famous
Photograph
photographer
PPT
ers
Edward Steichen
from
By: Kate Xiong
History

Edward Steichen
Born March 27, 1879 - March 25, 1973 (age 93)

I shall use the camera as long

as I live; for it can say things
that cannot be said in any
other medium... I will always
stick to photography!"

Steichens early years

Eduard Jean Steichen later changed his name to Edward after WW1. He was the son of
Jean-pierre and Marie Kemp Steichen, immigrated to the U.S., and at the age of 15 he
was part of a four year apprenticeship with the american fine art company of
Milwaukee. Learning how to sketch and draw, he would always pass by a camera shop
on the path to his work place. Tempted to buy the camera, he eventually bought his
first camera, which was a second handed Kodak Box detective camera, in 1885. His
friends and him were interested in both drawing and photography, and they rented a
shop and called themselves the Milwaukee art students league.
Steinchen had an incredible talent between drawing and photography. He planned to
go to Paris to pursue painting, but he stopped in New York, and thats when
photography became his major interest. Many people caught interest of his work, and
Alfred Stieglitz, who was the leading tastemaker in American photography, bought his
artwork for $5 each. Hes never sold any of his photos for more than 50 cents.

Historical Context
When he arrived in France he left painting and pursued
photography. He learned the technical intricacies of the gum
bichromate process, which was very popular among the
members of the Photo-Club de Paris. He had a good reputation
as a portraitist. He changed fashion photography forever. He
opened a photo session with Alfred Stieglitz , and he created the
template of for the modern fashion photographer. He was a
photographer for the Conde Nast magazines Vogue and Vanity
Fair. He was known as one of the best and highest paid
photographer in the world.

His Art
Many of Steichen's photos were B&W, and most of them were vintage. He had great
fame over his work in digital photography as a commercial photographer. He created
stylish and convincing portraits of artists and celebrities. His photos deal with very
dark colors that blend and connect with each other. He didnt sign a lot of his work,
and many of his photos have abstract scenes with special lighting effects coming from
natural or hidden lights.
He was a man of many talents; he was an artist of photos and paintings. He also was a
soldier which changed his path of photography later on. It influenced his work with his
experience in war. He was Director of Aerial Photography for the Allied Force during
WWI and Director of Naval Combat Photography in WWII,and he had an exhibit
named Family of Man in 1955.
Steinchen extremely innovative artist, Steichen is known for many types of
photographs including landscapes and cityscapes, still lifes, fashion
photography, portraits of friends and family, as well as war reportage and aerial
photography. Much of his early work appeared in Camera Work.
He used many kinds of cameras such as the Kodak Medalist, Rolleiflex, Robot,
and Kodak Bantam.

Some of his most famous photographs

Title of photo: BEAUTY
Detailed description of this photo: Actress Gloria Swanson behind a curtain of lace with a front view
. The lace has a flower like pattern and many sizes of sequenced flowers embedded in the lace. It is only on the lace
parts on her face, and the flowers also create a frame at the bottom and top in the photo. The eyes of the woman stares
straight out and her lips is also dark matching the color of her eyeshadow and cap or hat.

Analyze the composition: The flowers on the lace line out the face of the woman with the shapes of the different sizes
of the flowers. The lace with flowers create a sequence texture that contrast the colors behind it, between black and
white. The color of the hat, lips, eyeshadows, and flower traces is a darker contrast compared to her oval shaped face
and lighter background. The balance of the sewn lace flowers balance out in each side of the face and frame.
Emphasizing on the face shape of the woman and her lips.

Some of his/her most famous photographs

Title of photo: VERY MELBOURNE
Detailed description of this photo: Taken in France, models Marion Morehouse and an unidentified model wearing dresses by
Vionnet 1930 gelatin silver photograph. There are two women standing next to each other with their shoulders slightly touching,
and the women to the left is wearing black with a light background, and the one to the right is wearing all white with a dark
background. On the left contour of the image, there are flowers reaching into the photo. The two women looks like the reflection
of each other as they lean the same and wear the same bracelet, but opposite of each other. The light shines on the woman in
white and the light is in the background of the woman in black.

Analyze the composition: This photo has the colors of sepia soft. There is a huge contrast and value between black and white
between the walls and dresses. The line in the center of the photo separates the two women. The silky texture of the woman in
white creates movement of the flared out dress. The value of the floor is lighter than the background to the right. Also the space is
full when you see the whole body and floor area.

Some of his/her most famous photographs

Title of photo: TAKING STAGE
Detailed description of this photo: There is a horse in the center with three women. The whole scene is white
and little dark colors or black. Two out of the three women are wearing similar white dresses with sheer cloaks.
The horse is the furthest back in the photo with the woman in the middle wearing a white sun hat, with a
petting gesture with her right hand. The women the the right has her back turned and she stares at a low angle.
The woman to the left is facing frontwards and she holds her left shoulder with her right arms bent.
Analyze the composition: The photo has a contrast between white and the shadows that are reflected onto the
white figures and setting. The two women wearing the same outfits balance out the photo on each side, while
the horse and third woman is in the center; the woman in the center with the horse is the main emphasis in this
particular photo. Also the pattern of the lines in the background create a mini white square tiles. The shadows
create rays of their silhouette that creates the shape of the white figures. The shadows shape indicate that the
shapes are created by different angles of lighting to have so many direction of shapes on the floor.

Title of Photo: JAPONAISE

Detailed description of photo: This photo has a vintage look with
shadows at the left top and bottom. There are many lines on the
drape on the left side of the woman's shoulder. The woman is
wearing a plain white dress with a black rim on the neck, but the
drape covers it. She is also touching the wall on the left side with
her left hand. The lines on the walls creates three sections with a
narrow center. With a streak of dark color on the wall is where the
woman stands, and the floor is the darkest area with light reflecting
it on the side. The woman also has a silhouette behind her. This
photo is wide at the top and small at the bottom , almost like a V
shape.
Analyze the composition: The value is dark at the bottom of the
photo with tints of white. The lines on the wall cuts the wall into
five sections diagonally. The value on the center of the wall is dark,
which emphasizes the lady who contrasts to the center of the wall.
The drape has patterns of lines forming shapes with light and dark
value all over inside the drape, and the lines creates movement
inside the cloak. The photo has a deep space and has moment
inside the proportion of the photo from top to bottom. The floor
has texture of bumps and dimension of volume. The dark colors of
the floor reaks to the surface to the wall in the photo, and its shape
is dark compared to the wall.

Title: ANYONE FOR TENNIS

Description: There are four women looking at the same direction and wearing a
hat and white skirts. The first two are wearing dark or patterned colored tops
and the last two are wearing all white. The first three had their legs folded in
and the second lady hold a binocular with her left hand. They are all leaning
onto a white patterned border and they are sitting on a wrinkling big cushion.
The background is sky white and there is a white blanket at the feet of the
second woman on the cushion. The last woman has her legs down on the
leather like cushion at the very edge.
Analyze the composition: The photo has a contrast between black and
white between the two sets of women and the background and seat. There is
movement with the row of ladies between the contrast of the clothing. The
texture of the seat the ladies are sitting has smooth dents and bumps. Also the
lines on the apparel of the ladies create stripes, creating a smooth texture on
their clothing, giving it dimension. The white cloth on the left side of the photo
creates movement as it drapes down the large seat.

My favorite photo by
Edward Steichen
Title of photo: DRAMA
Description: Actress Mary Heberden,
in a dark dress with a wide open back. The
ribbon like material lays on the back of her
shoulders, and there is a little bow at the
bottom of her open back dress. The photo is
put in a vintage filter and the background is
unevenly light. There are white hair pin
designs in her bun and she has bracelets on
her left wrist; that hand is bent cuffing her
waist, and she is looking in that direction.

Analysis: This photo emphasizes on her

smooth back. The color of this photo has a
brown tint in B&W. The value of the color in
the center of the background is light and as it
ripples out it becomes medium to dark on
the edges. The smooth silky texture of her
dress creates a shiny clean appearance with
its smooth creased dents and bumps, along
with the contrast of the shadows that are
made within her dress.

Why it is my favorite: This is

my favorite because, the open back
makes the dress look like as if its just
calmly sitting on her.

My Photo Composition
in the Style of my Photographer

Title: DASH OF WATER

This photo has the style of dark and light colors. The contrast is B&W, and there is light value
emphasized in the center. Also the dark and light colors blends the shadow on the babys back, giving it
shape and dimension. The line of water that the baby is looking at creates movement from the bottom
to top. Also the tub the baby is in, is a dark contrast to the babys skin.

Inspired by this photo (SPLASH)

Title: SPLASH
Description: In this photo there is a person
inside the water, and this person is creating a
huge splash movement. The person has their
bare butt facing front, and their legs folded up
creating smaller splashes at the bottom. This
person has short hair, and the photo is B&W.
Composition Analysis: This photo has a
contrast between black and white. The
splashes has a light value of color and the
dark value of the water around the waist of the
body creates an emphasis on the back and
butt. The butt has a brighter contrast to the
darker colored water with light pigments of
value. The space is deep and spacious. The
lines of the splash creates a movement as it
expands more out of the water surface.

Resource Page
List source/links used for
your research
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Steichen#Partnership_with_Stieglitz
http://www.iphf.org/hall-of-fame/edward-steichen/
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/stei/hd_stei.htm
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/edward-steichen-in-vogue-125189608/?no-ist
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Steichen
http://www.agallery.com/pages/photographers/steichen.html
http://www.thecultureconcept.com/circle/edward-steichen-fashion-glamour-and-modernity-atthe-ngv