Artist 3

Berenice Abbott

Born in Springfield, Ohio in 1898, Berenice Abbott spent the early part of her artistic career studying sculpture in New York, Berlin, and Paris, where she worked as Man Ray's studio assistant. After a time, Abbott moved to New York to pursue photography independantly. Abbott never married but she lived with her partner Elizabeth McCausland for 30 years, until McCausland's death in 1965. She was ahead of her time as a proto-feminist and publicly identified as lesbian throughout much of her life. In fact, in 1959 the FBI put her under surveillance as a “concealed communist” with “homosexual tendencies.” This part of her identity influenced Abotts art significantly inspiring her to photograph novelists, poets and fellow artists in New York’s underground queer scene.

However, her most famous work focuses on New York between the two World wars, documenting The Great Depression, this collection was published under the name ‘Changing New York’ in 1939. Personally, I love that she portrayed the Great Depression's failing businesses and shantytowns with the same veneration as posh hotels and private homes. It has been said that Abbott’s work contributed to modern photograpy’s recognition as an art form across both Europe and America, especially in the photographic genre of social realism. Despite her passing in 1991, Berenice Abbott and her extraordinary work has remained in public view at renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian in NYC.

Murray Hill Hotel, Spiral, 112 Park Avenue, NYC (1935)

Taken on film, the composition of this image is strong. The large looming skyscraper although in the background stands out as a dominant aspect. It's rigid boxy lines pop out from a soft grey sky. Not to mention the roundness of the art deco style building on the right side makes for great contrast between the buildings. This photo as a representation of Abbott's New York is crucial, shocking inequality during The Great Depression is a theme seen throughout ‘Changing New York’ . And this photo is a prime example of that inconsistency, as symbolised by the two structures.

As is commonly associated with twentieth century analogue photography, this photo was printed using the gelatine silver method. This contributes to the moody, dark atmosphere of the photo.

The subject of this image and the urban environment in which it was taken is a crucial aspect which I will make sure to imitate in my own work. Immense architecture portrayed in black and white is what i intend to photograph.

New York stock exchange, New York

Warehouse (Yuban), Water and Dock Streets, Brooklyn, New York

Rector Street - Italian Festival

My work + Editing process

Taken on Canon EOS 4000D, using zoom lens 18-55mm

Each photo has been edited using Camera Raw and when required, Photoshop.

For a lot of these photos the sky is a big part of the shot therefore I wanted to ensure it was used effectively. In Camera Raw I selected the sky as a separate mask, I then played with contrast and exposure until I was happy with these levels. This creates far more depth and atmosphere for the piece and I find them to be far more interesting to look at once edited in this way.

Gloucester St rail bridge, Deansgate - Before (above) and After (below)

f/18 ISO: 1600

Edits include:

crop and angle -4degrees
mask sky and +80 contrast, -1.2 exposure on mask
black and white preset

Deansgate Locks, Deansgate

f/16 ISO: 3200

Above: Before edit

Edit includes:

Content-aware remove of person on the bottom left
Mask of sky and +50 contrast, -2.5 exposure on mask
crop to centre canal
black and white preset

Skyline, Oxford Road

f/20 ISO:3200

Oxford Road

f/20 ISO:3200
f/10 ISO:100
f/9 ISO:100

The Hotspur Press, Gloucester St, Deansgate

f/5.6 ISO: 100

Evaluation

Overall, I am happy with what I have produced, the artists chosen really inspired me to create something worthwhile. Specifically, a few of the photos taken for the Berenice Abbott project are my favourite, I love the black and white dramatic style she has and that I have recreated for my own work. Immense architecture around central Manchester made the perfect subject for my shots.

My goal throughout was to create something moody and atmospheric, and I believe this has been achieved.

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