Recreation

 Icy Night, Alfred Stieglitz (1893)

Biography

American photographer, Alfred Stieglitz, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1864. An intelligent young man, Stieglitz attended several prestigious schools, including Charlier Institute in New York, and Berlin’s Technische Hochschule for college. There he studied mechanical engineering under Hermann Wilhelm Vogel, who was a leader in photographic research. It was under Vogel’s direction, that Stieglitz developed a love of photography.  He traversed the European countryside, photographing scenes in nature and German peasants, refining his craft.

After winning several awards as an amateur photographer in Germany, Stieglitz returned to New York in 1891. Over the next few years, he started a photography business called, “photochrome.” Stieglitz demanded such a high quality product that his workers were paid an insanely large salary, resolutely, his business never made a profit. In later years, Stieglitz’s orchestrated the merger of two popular photography clubs, to create the Camera Club of New York.

Stieglitz, who had been unhappily married to trust fund child Emmeline Obermeyer since 1893, found love with a young artist named Georgia O’Keeffe. After his divorce was final, Stieglitz married O’Keeffe in 1924. During their marriage, O’Keeffe acted as a muse for Stieglitz, driving him to create more that-three hundred and fifty portraits of her. Coincidentally, this marriage was also devoid of happiness, and O’Keeffe headed to the south to continue working on her art.

Over the years, Stieglitz continued produce amazing photography. His work was displayed in several shows, and museums. Various photos of his were donated to the Boston Museum of Art, and are still part of the museum’s private collection—some of the only photographs included in the collection during that time. Alfred Stieglitz continued to be a prominent artistic photographer until his death in 1946.

Icy Night

At this point in his career, Stieglitz had returned from Germany and had taken residence in New York City. By then, Stieglitz had learned of the portable camera, and of many the photographs he took during that time were taken with this type of camera.

The photograph, Icy Night, was taken in 1893, and depicts a snowy New York evening. The photograph is framed by two snow-covered trees, which add an air of balance to the scene. Based on the illumination in the trees, it seems that the picture was lit by some synthetic source, perhaps a street lamp. There is also a heavy element of contrast in this piece. The lightness of the trees coupled with the bright streetlamps and fog in the distance, are a stark contrast to the black sky.  I believe that the photographer does this to add emphasis to the light and the trail.

The concept of this image seems to be to lead the viewer somewhere. The footsteps in the lighted trail lead to a city street ahead. The main goal of this photograph is to depict the night in the city and the photographer does this very well.

I enjoy the fact that, other than the obvious graininess, the photograph looks like it could have been taken yesterday.  There are areas of Lansing that look very similar to the city in the photo. I also like the sense of expectation that picture gives. I feel anxious wondering where the trail leads. Is it to a party? Is it to a death? My imagination runs wild with possibilities. 

Recreation 

I call this piece, Icy Morning. I sought to replicate certain elements of the original photograph, while adding in a more modern twist. Similar to, Icy Night, I attempted to let the icy trail lead to something in the distance. I also tried to emulate the twinkling streetlamps of the city. I used the lightening morning sky in place of fog, because there was no fog, and I feel that the image works. I initially tilted the camera to gain a different perspective and I ended up liking it much more than the photographs that were taken straight on.