I found reading about Jules Lion and his affect on photography to be very interesting and inspirational. First, it is very thought provoking that so little is known about him. How did he get his first camera? How did he get to know and photograph such important figures?
Second, I always love to learn about people who have paved the way for others. Lion is considered to be the first Black photographer, and he definitely opened that arena to other Black people, including Robert Haggins.
"Any photographer–black or white–could have walked down a Harlem street in 1964 and taken a picture of an ebullient Malcolm X walking with Muhammad Ali after Ali won the heavyweight title. But white photographers did not take pictures of Malcolm X laughing. It took Robert L. Haggins, a black man, to make that photograph."
I appreciate that it takes a deep appreciation or understanding of the subject to truly capture it on film. Therefore, it makes sense that Black photographers were able to capture their counterparts in a real way on film.
I also found this quote from the same reading interesting, "Black photographers rarely knew each other, especially in photography’s first century, but from the outset their agenda was remarkably similar. First and last, they used their art as a corrective to mainstream white culture’s pictures of blacks. Whether the people in these pictures were rich or poor, they were never stereotypes. From the beginning, the photographers vigilantly guarded their subjects’ individuality and dignity." It is amazing to me that people who do not know each other, who are separated by location can be so united in their mission.
Another reading I greatly appreciated this week was the Frederick Douglass piece. I think this writing of him captured his heroicism. Though he was shaking, though he feared retaliation, though he was a disposable minority Douglass told his story. I greatly admire that. From a young age he was determined and always set goals for himself. When he was treated poorly as a slave, he set a goal to be free by the next year! Though this goal was not met and that time, I love that he did not lose his dream and once free he spoke for all those who could not.
In many ways, the first generation of black photographers were doing the same thing - 'speaking' through their photos for their black community who was unable to speak for themselves.
I also found Jules Lyon a very interesting character, not only his being one of the first photographers even in AMerica, especially with his own teaching studio. BUt also the unique view he was able to capture of his fellow African AMericans. By being a part of that culture he could uncover and publish unbiased images of a people who were often neglected by the dominant white culture around them.
ReplyDeleteJules Lyon was a very fascinating person to study on. His photographs are very interesting and powerful. He captured the African Americans in a light that was very creative and showed the real lives of the people.
ReplyDeleteJules Lyon was interesting in the context that he is a mysterious person. I thought his ambition was admirable because not only was he the first black photographer but he was one of the first people of any race to really experiment with lithographs. I liked you opinion on him; however, how do you feel about him being declared white on his death certificate. Do you think that he should still be considered under the category of a black artist? I also wrote on Fredrick Douglas and he is an admirable character. His story was really what got my attention. Not only for its vivid detail; but because of the eloquence of how he wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you mention that when reading about the various artists and their pieces, more questions arise! I also thought it was interesting that although the black photographers never met, they all had the same purpose. White photographers never have that issue and it would be interesting to find out if other ethnic American photographers also share that same similarity.
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