Skip to Main Content
Photography is an artist's tool like that of a paintbrush that uses light to create images. It was invented in the early 19th c. and continues to change even now. The camera is a mechanical device used to capture and record moments and stories in our world and our lives. There are many types of photographs which often fall into three basic categories: landscape, portrait, and documentary.
Let's consider a handful of examples: sports, politics, world events, commercial, underwater, aerial, and medical, and family. Today, photography has become a major part of our daily lives with the invention of digital photography and mobile phones.
When we take a photograph of something what do we do with it? When we take photos of people what do we do with them? What are some of our responsibilities around taking photographs of others (especially considering social media)?
Look at the photographs below. Are they portraits? Do they record history? Are they Art? Do they show fashion? Sports? Do they record wildlife or nature? Why is photography such a powerful tool? How do artists use photography to communicate with us?
References & Attributions: By Angela Bizzari.
Letter Photography (5th Grade) art lesson.
Photo Story (5th Grade) art lesson.
Take a picture! Practice “framing” a picture by looking through a hole cut out of a piece of paper – then take one! You may want to combine this with painting or making a frame for the photograph.
Take a photo and manipulate it using a photo editor.
Cooper Union, Lincoln, Matthew Brady, 1860, Early portrait and historical documentation.
Thunderbolt, William Jennings, 1885, Beginning of stop-motion photography.
Civil War, Lincoln and McClelland, 1862, War photography.
Red Armed Panther, Cheyenne Huffman, 1879, Documentation of Native Americans.
Delaware Water Gap, John Moran, 1864 Stereograph (like a view-master – big industry at the time in photography).
Cascade Francis Bedford, 1865, Landscape photography
Anglican Life, Peter Henry Emerson, 1888, Stonecutters Courbet Photography as “High Art.” (Photograph and painting in the same style, beginnings of photography as Art)
Ring Toss, Clarence White, 1888 and Daughters of Edward Darly Boit John Singer Sargent 1882 – (photograph and painting in the same style).
Life Magazine Cover, Fort Peck Dam Margaret Bourke-White, 1936, Life Magazine as an important part of the beginnings of photojournalism.
Hindenberg, Sam Shere, 1937, Photojournalism.
Heading West, Tulare Lake, CA Dorothea Lange, 1939, Social documentation commissioned through the Works Progress Administration during depression.
Strobe Photograph, by Harold Edgerton, 1930s, Stop motion photography -- Edgerton developed strobe photography.
Ghandi, Margaret Bourke-White, 1946, Photojournalism.
Kosovo Refugees, Yannis Behraki, 2001, Modern photojournalism.
Indonesian Elections, John Stanmeyer, 2000, Modern photojournalism.
Decathalon Runner, Barcelona Games, Barton Silverman, Sports photography.
Diver Sun Shuwei of China, Barcelona Olympics, Sports photography.
Michael Jordan, Barton Silverman, 1996, Sports photography.
Woman in Black Dress, Irving Penn, 1950, Fashion photography.
Christian Lacroix, 1996, Fashion photography.
National Geographic Cover, Tim Laman, 2000, (National Geographic becomes anchor for nature and anthropological photography).
Simican Trio, Ronald Wilson, 1991, Nature photography.
Underwater off Palmyra Islands, Randy Olsen, 2001, Underwater photography.
Buzz Aldrin, July 16, 1969 by Neil Armstrong ,1969, Photojournalism.
Mesa, New Mexico Timothy O’Sullivan 1873 Landscape photography.
Shells, Edward Weston 1927, Art photography.
Glass Tears, Man-Ray 1933, Art photography.
Untitled, Philip Halsman 1975, Art photography.
Dali Atomicus, Jerry Nuelsmann, 1948, Art photography.
Fueling Success for Every Student, Every School