phōtos graphé

The word "photography" was created from the Greek roots (phōtos), genitive of (phōs), "light" and (graphé) "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", together meaning "drawing with light".

This group is for photographers who are interested in black and white fine art photography, both contemporary and historical. The focus of the group will be black and white: Street Photography: Architectural Photography; Portraits; Fashion; and Figurative Photography. The group will discuss/explore fine art photography at both in studio workshops, and by attending lectures ( Vistek, Ryerson School of Image Arts), and attending photography gallery exhibitions ( i.e. AGO, Stephen Bulger Gallery, The Ryerson Image Centre, Odon Wagner Gallery, Gallery 44, and the Jane Corkin Gallery). All in studio workshops will be kept small to allow each person ample time to take photographs ( max. 4 plus organizer). Again the emphasis will be on black & white photography.

References will be made to the Photo-Secession group formed in 1902 by Alfred Stieglitz when he was asked by the National Arts Club to put together an exhibition of the best in contemporary American photographers.
Pictorialism, was the underlying value of the Photo-Secession; a style in which the photographer has somehow manipulated their photograph as a means of "creating" an image rather than simply recording it. The “membership” of the Photo-Secession centered around the core group of Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Clarence H. White, Käsebier, Frank Eugene, F. Holland Day, and later Alvin Langdon Coburn. The other group of photographers who influenced contemporary photography was the Group f/64 which was organized in 1932 by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Willard Van Dyke, Imogen Cunningham, and others, to promote "straight" photography. Emphasis was placed on "pure" photography, sharp images, maximum depth-of-field, smooth glossy printing paper, emphasizing the unique qualities of the photographic process. Discussion about contemporary black and white fine art photography will be guided by Lensculture in Berkeley, California, and the Aperture Foundation in NYC, as well as contemporary European black and white photography.