Alfred Stieglitz Pre-Assignment

     Alfred Stieglitz was an American photographer who was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, in the year 1864. He was a student in germany until he returned to the states in 1890. His goal was to show people that photographs could have as much artistic expression as a painting or suculpture. He believed that photography did not need to be put in to a box that dictated that photographs had only to be about war or to capture a time in history but could be works of art that could be displayed for enjoyment.
   While in the states Stieglitz was an editor for a journal by the name of Comera Notes of Camera Club.The whole association was made up of amature photographers enthusiasts who also believed in Stieglitz's oppinion of photography. When the Camera Club began to become troubled by Stieglitz's restrictive editoral policies, Stieglitz and the other participants with the same mind left the Camera Club to start a group called the Photo-Secession in 1902. The group was mainly focused on every aspect involved in photography.
    Stieglitz was also an editor of a publication by the name Camera Work from 1902 to 1917. He also organized exhibitions with the help of Edward J. Steichen ( to learn more about this photographer look for a post labled Edward J. Steichen). As time progressed Stieglitz and his associates changed their view on photography and showed support for photographers such as Paul Strand (for more on Paul Strand look to Earlier post) and charles Sheeler who helped to make the new approach to photography more solid in the art community. As his feelings changed Stieglitz even changed the feel in his photographs. Such as his much celebrated portrait of Georgia O' Keefe. Keefe was once one of his photo subject between 1917 and 1925. Hundreds of pictures were taken of the painter Keefe who later, in 1924, became his wife.
    Much like many modern ideas at the time Stieglitz refused to present a single image of his wife with her whole personality because it was widley believed that a personality just like the outside world is always changing and should not be put on hold just because the camera, or new instruments were invented. Leaving people with the relization that a photograph is as much an expression of the photographer's feelings for the subject of the photo as they are a reflection of the subject depicted.
    In Stieglitz final decades of his life he devoted most of his time to running his gallery Anderson Galleries, 1921-25, The Intimate Gallery, 1925-29, An American Place,1929-46. His Looking Northwest from the shelton photographs taken out of his gallery window making Alfred Stieglitz the most significant figure in American Photography.