Blog - Barbara Levine

Paul Strand on Snapshot Photography

"...the whole concept of the snapshot has to be looked upon in a very broad sort of way.  If you want to use the word snapshot, you should not use it contemptuously. Snapshot should not be a derogatory word. The snapshot is the result of the scientific development of photography, and all developments should b welcomed and used with sensitivity. The snapshot has nothing at all to do with amateurism or casual photography. It can be used by many people for many different reasons; by amateurs and by professionals, and also by artists. There is no one answer to the question of how to photograph. There are many ways, and there are many ways to use the materials that have... Read more 2 comments Barbara Levine, Paul Strand, Snapshot photography

Lee Friedlander on Snapshot Photographs

"It's a swell word (snapshot) I've always liked. It probably came about because it describes a basic fact of photography. Whether the practitioner uses small, medium or large format equipment, or whether his concerns and interests are botanical, animal or folks, landscape or street life, etc., the only relevance is the photograph itself. The pleasures of good photographs are the pleasures of good photographs, whatever the particulars of their makeup." Lee Friedlander. Excerpt from a 1974 article on snapshots in Aperture magazine Read more Barbara Levine, Lee Friedlander, Snapshot photographs

Vernacular Photography: The Art of the Found

Courtesy ZieherSmith and Winter Works on Paper Click on this photo for a fantastic overview of the state of vernacular photography as art and curatorial practice. A must read if you are a vernacular photography collector!   Read more Barbara Levine, Collecting Found Photograph, Snapshots, Vernacular Photography

Hand Painted Photo Fun

Collection of Barbara Levine / PROJECT B With a nod to summer fun is this 1950s hand painted photograph of La Jolla beach in California. Since the beginning of photography in the 1800s, professional and amateur photographers have experimented with hand painting to make their photographs appear more realistic. Hand coloring was a time consuming process resulting in unique hand-made images. Can you imagine this photograph big and hanging on your wall? We would love to know what you think! Read more 1 comment Barbara Levine, Hand painted photographs, hand tinted photographs, PROJECT B, vintage California beach photos, vintage photos of La Jolla

Mystery Diva Snapshot

  We review thousands of vintage photographs in the Project B archive before deciding which images would make great wall size prints. I try to imagine photographs people would want to put on their walls. I came across this 1965 snapshot and doubt anyone would choose it to go over their couch!  This photo is a mystery; are we looking at a zombie woman, a man in bad drag or an aging opera diva?!  What do you think? Read more 1 comment anonymous photographs, Barbara Levine, found photos, snapshots « Newer articles 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 Older articles »