Photo by: Louis Scarfo
A photogravure is a print process in which a photographic negative is transferred to a metal plate and etched in. Photogravure was one of, if not the earliest forms of image making. The process is started by preparing the copper plate with chemicals. Next, the image is prepped with a positive from the original negative and or a copy of the negative. This positive then gets printed on carbon tissue (gelatin paper) under ultraviolet light. Once the picture is prepared, its is the moved to the copper plate and submerged in hot water. Finally, the plate is put in a series of “baths” of ferric chloride to create the final image. Although the process is tough, the results gained are incomparable and for early individuals, the only connection they had to events. For example, in the article about the Civil War, Zeller tells how these basic images in saying “it was their most visceral, closest link to their loved ones”.
Photogravure gave a beginning to what we now know as photojournalism. The process allowed for individuals to finally print images in which they could publish to tell stories that previously may not have been fully grasped without the imagery. Prior to photogravure, only news stories were published with text, however after it’s creation, images could too be attached. Images are arguably just as effective if not more effective than text when it comes to storytelling. For example, many know that Afghanistan is a place of many problems, though people do not truly know the reality of it all. Wahidy tells how she uses photographs to tell a story not just about issues, but a greater story overall when she says “I try to show the bigger image, not just show we ave problems”. Photos of Afghanistan are used to show an inside view on the nation in which many would never get had it not be for photojournalism. Photojournalism was immensely effected for the better with the creation of photogravure and was able to create a foundation for a new empire of news.
Prior to digital photography, photogravure was the way in which images were formed. Many individuals in today’s society that are largely immersed in photography may not have the same love had they use photogravure rather than their effortless digital photography. Digital photography is often taken for granted, seeing as the photographer can capture images now that were thought to be impossible to capture by photographers in the 19th century. In reference to the video on the wet collodion process, early processes for creating images were said to be “both difficult and somewhat dangerous to do”. Again, the work put into the development is well worth the results, regardless of the difficulties that come with it.
When taking my digital photo today, it was quite simple; aim and snap the shot and it was already developed and ready to be published if desired. Had there not been such technology, I would have been required to have all the equipment necessary to develop the photo on hand, and all the knowledge it would take to carry out this process. Often times with early photography equipment the exact shots that were needed for photojournalism were difficult to obtain. Robert Capa touched on this topic with the popular quote “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”. Although photogravure is a complicated process, it shaped photojournalism into the art we know of it today and allowed for a new form of news telling. It shaped and laid out a path for the further development of photography, which intern boosted the quality of photojournalism, not only today but in the past as well.
Photo by: Walker & Boutall
Image source: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/photogravure-by-walker-boutall-after-a-photograph-by-news-photo/90773100#photogravure-by-walker-boutall-after-a-photograph-by-barrauds-ltd-picture-id90773100
Photogravure gave a beginning to what we now know as photojournalism. The process allowed for individuals to finally print images in which they could publish to tell stories that previously may not have been fully grasped without the imagery. Prior to photogravure, only news stories were published with text, however after it’s creation, images could too be attached. Images are arguably just as effective if not more effective than text when it comes to storytelling. For example, many know that Afghanistan is a place of many problems, though people do not truly know the reality of it all. Wahidy tells how she uses photographs to tell a story not just about issues, but a greater story overall when she says “I try to show the bigger image, not just show we ave problems”. Photos of Afghanistan are used to show an inside view on the nation in which many would never get had it not be for photojournalism. Photojournalism was immensely effected for the better with the creation of photogravure and was able to create a foundation for a new empire of news.
Prior to digital photography, photogravure was the way in which images were formed. Many individuals in today’s society that are largely immersed in photography may not have the same love had they use photogravure rather than their effortless digital photography. Digital photography is often taken for granted, seeing as the photographer can capture images now that were thought to be impossible to capture by photographers in the 19th century. In reference to the video on the wet collodion process, early processes for creating images were said to be “both difficult and somewhat dangerous to do”. Again, the work put into the development is well worth the results, regardless of the difficulties that come with it.
When taking my digital photo today, it was quite simple; aim and snap the shot and it was already developed and ready to be published if desired. Had there not been such technology, I would have been required to have all the equipment necessary to develop the photo on hand, and all the knowledge it would take to carry out this process. Often times with early photography equipment the exact shots that were needed for photojournalism were difficult to obtain. Robert Capa touched on this topic with the popular quote “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”. Although photogravure is a complicated process, it shaped photojournalism into the art we know of it today and allowed for a new form of news telling. It shaped and laid out a path for the further development of photography, which intern boosted the quality of photojournalism, not only today but in the past as well.
Photo by: Walker & Boutall
Image source: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/photogravure-by-walker-boutall-after-a-photograph-by-news-photo/90773100#photogravure-by-walker-boutall-after-a-photograph-by-barrauds-ltd-picture-id90773100
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