Stairways to Heaven
For me, our last meeting at the Essex Photo Club was groundbreaking, in that it touched on a topic of photography that has not received much attention during my tenure with the club.
Claire Gentile’s presentation of architectural photography—most notably spiral staircases—is a nice distraction from the proliferation of nature photography that I’ve grown used to at the club. Not that there’s anything wrong with nature photography…it’s my passion as well. But for me, also exploring the “Hand of Man” side of the art helps to keep things in balance.
Whenever I think of staircases I think of A Sea of Steps, one of my favorite architectural works by Frederick Henry Evans.
Serbia photo has this to say about Evans…
“Evans was also accomplished in the areas of portraiture, landscape, and photomicrography (photography made using a microscope), and he brought to each subject the same intensity that characterizes his cathedral images. He believed firmly that only a good negative would yield the perfect print, and his high standards for presentation extended to the elaborate mounting of the actual photographs. Using both a “straight” approach (not altering his negatives) and pictorial sensitivity to subject and style, Evans’s work, created more than 100 years ago, continues to move and inspire.”
Claire’s Presentation on February 7 was an inspiring look at the artistry that can go into the making of a staircase designed to fit in a compact space or to emulate a non-linear shape. But it was also a broader reach into the art of architectural photography as a whole, and the challenges that come along with it. Here are some of my personal favorites from Claire’s collection shared on 500px and Flickr…
If these spectacular images leave you wanting for more, visit Claire’s 500px and Flickr spaces on the web for more works, which also encompass Astro Photography, Botanical, Landscape, Long Expsoure, Nature, Landscape and Vernacular.
Ironically, another work by Frederick Henry Evans looks somewhat familiar…
All this is very timely for me, because last year something interesting began appearing in my LinkedIn feed. Writer and Editor Frank T. Kryza was sharing photos of staircases of all kinds, include the spiral variety. And I became fascinated in architecture all over again. (Early on in my career I contemplated being an architect, having studied under the late Raymond Wells.) Little did I know then, I would still go on to becoming a successful architect of a different kind…an “Information” architect.
These are some of the photos Frank has shared…
These are just some of the inspirational postings from Frank T. Kryza via LinkedIn. Visit Frank’s LinkedIn Activity Page to see more.
Why does Frank post so many images of staircases?
“Stairs are the way humans move from one level to another
physically. How do we move from level to level emotionally and intellectually? And also spiritally? There must be the psychological equivalent of stairs. And I wish I could photograph one!”
Profound indeed. I also see stairs as a way of solving a problem, with an opportunity for innovation along the way.
Claire’s affinity for staircases inspires her to research them up front, yet another fascinating by-product of practicing photography. The exchange of information can be as much of a key to making a great picture as learning composition, exposure and lighting.
And here’s one of mine…
Taken c1995 at Battery Potter, Sandy Hook, NJ with my indestructible Canon F1. All manual, match-needle metering, Kodak Tri-X Pan. Ah, those were the days.
Also involving stairs (but not the spiral variety), this was shot 14 years later on a Nikon “mirrorless” digital camera at the Nine Gun Battery, also at Sandy hook.
I’d like thank Claire once again for making it such a pleasant evening at Essex Photo Club. I see a lot of staircases in my future, thanks to her inspirational works, sound advice and words of encouragement. And thanks also to Warren Marchioni, without whom great moments like this wouldn’t happen.
