Personal Background: Eliot Porter, born December 6, 1901 in Winnetka, Illinois, was an American photographer known for his profound color photographs of nature. He was the second of five children of an upper-middle-class family that lived in the Chicago suburbs. As he received his first camera as a gift, he began photographing birds and school athletic events. Eight years later, he entered Harvard to study chemical engineering. He then graduated Harvard in 1924 and entered Harvard Med School. Two years later, Porter continued his studies of biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, England. In 1927, he returned to Harvard Med School for two years to receive his M.D. He taught there for ten years, with photography still not present in his life. Although, that changed in 1939 when he resigned from teaching to pursue his true passion. In 1941, Porter received a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, as an opportunity to photograph birds in both the US and Canada. Five years later, he became a photographer at large for Audubon Magazine, a well know company that focuses on birds as their cover pages. In 1967, he received the Conservation Service Award from the US Department of the Interior. Two years later, he was awarded again with the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree by Colby College, Waterville, Maine. Also, from 1965 to 1971, Porter was elected to the Sierra Club board of directors, an environment preservation organization. Other recognitions include becoming the Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and receiving the honorary Doctor of Science degree from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Eliot Porter died November 2, 1990 in Santa Fe. His work was well known and his accomplishments reflect the great work he put into his career of photography.
Style: Eliot Porter's style began with bird photographs, similar to paintings and drawings of John James Audubon, due to his detail, technique and composition. His work was also in the style of Ansel Adams' straight photography. This showed the subject in a straightforward manner, with emphasis on tone. Porter's color photography shifted over time from a portrayal of birds to natural landscapes, presented in the exhibition titled, "In Wildness is the Preservation of the World." Overall, he was noted for detailed and exquisite color images of nature.
Philosophy: The major idea Eliot Porter held behind his work, was to draw public attention toward the distinctive and endangered beauty of natural environments across the Earth. Specifically, he participated in America's environmental movement, which is a political, environmental, and social movement that strives to protect natural resources, including animal and plant species, as well as their habitats for the future. He believed it was in the people's hands to guard undisturbed environments across the planet. Porter captured several series of photographs in different parts of the world to serve this purpose. Through his landscape and bird photographs, he drew people's attention to this cause.
Influences: Eliot Porter has influenced me in my work by giving me a different perspective in photography. His portfolios include images with such clear detail, which shows how time-consuming each one took. He simply takes photos as they are in the environment, displaying how the outside world looks and needs to be untouched. He has shown me that a thought process is behind each photo. Time is included to emphasize a picture and make each component as realistic on a photograph as it was when it was taken.
Style: Eliot Porter's style began with bird photographs, similar to paintings and drawings of John James Audubon, due to his detail, technique and composition. His work was also in the style of Ansel Adams' straight photography. This showed the subject in a straightforward manner, with emphasis on tone. Porter's color photography shifted over time from a portrayal of birds to natural landscapes, presented in the exhibition titled, "In Wildness is the Preservation of the World." Overall, he was noted for detailed and exquisite color images of nature.
Philosophy: The major idea Eliot Porter held behind his work, was to draw public attention toward the distinctive and endangered beauty of natural environments across the Earth. Specifically, he participated in America's environmental movement, which is a political, environmental, and social movement that strives to protect natural resources, including animal and plant species, as well as their habitats for the future. He believed it was in the people's hands to guard undisturbed environments across the planet. Porter captured several series of photographs in different parts of the world to serve this purpose. Through his landscape and bird photographs, he drew people's attention to this cause.
Influences: Eliot Porter has influenced me in my work by giving me a different perspective in photography. His portfolios include images with such clear detail, which shows how time-consuming each one took. He simply takes photos as they are in the environment, displaying how the outside world looks and needs to be untouched. He has shown me that a thought process is behind each photo. Time is included to emphasize a picture and make each component as realistic on a photograph as it was when it was taken.
Personal Artist Statement: Both images above are taken of clouds against a blue sky. "High Above" captures an asymmetrical photograph, with a large cloud taking up space on the left, and various smaller clouds that blend together on the right. This photo was first enhanced to make the blue hue stand out. The contrast was increased, though so was the curves setting to get a balanced color as close to the original as possible. The texture and depth of the clouds are especially showcased. As the sun was hiding behind the clouds, different levels of brightness show through them; this provided depth. Also, the texture around the edges, mainly on the right, is very soft, which shows movement in the image.
Compare and Contrast: These two photographs are very similar in that they both are clouds in the sky. The first photo displays a darker cloud on top of a larger and whiter cloud. The second photo reveals more sky, although the clouds show similar contrasts in color. Also, the air quality in Utah may have been different than it is in Michigan, causing different types of clouds to form. The actual photo is cropped into the same size as the original, so they look as similar as possible.
Compare and Contrast: These two photographs are very similar in that they both are clouds in the sky. The first photo displays a darker cloud on top of a larger and whiter cloud. The second photo reveals more sky, although the clouds show similar contrasts in color. Also, the air quality in Utah may have been different than it is in Michigan, causing different types of clouds to form. The actual photo is cropped into the same size as the original, so they look as similar as possible.
Personal Artist Statement: Both images above are taken of the bark of a birch tree. The photo "Worn" was originally an off centered picture of the tree trunk. Though, it has been cropped so no background is visible and details are closer up. The vibrance was set higher to make the slight green hue stand out, as well as the contrast to enhance the difference between lighter and darker parts of the tree. The curves setting was also adjusted to make the photo more balanced, where each color didn't wash out the other. The shot was taken straight on to highlight each line of detail in the birch tree.
Compare and Contrast: Similarly, both Porter's photo and my own were taken of birch tree bark. His photo is much more weathered and old, highlighting the peeling aspect of the birch. Whereas, "Worn" does not show as much age to it. The first image contains a section of brown, as does the second photo, which reveals light shades of green. Both images reveal natural light hitting the front of the tree, which outlines the indents and details of the bark.
Compare and Contrast: Similarly, both Porter's photo and my own were taken of birch tree bark. His photo is much more weathered and old, highlighting the peeling aspect of the birch. Whereas, "Worn" does not show as much age to it. The first image contains a section of brown, as does the second photo, which reveals light shades of green. Both images reveal natural light hitting the front of the tree, which outlines the indents and details of the bark.
Personal Artist Statement: Both photos above were taken of branches suspended over a river. "Hanging" displays clear ripples from the reflection in the water. The image consists of hanging branches, with a background of other darker trees, in front of a blue sky. The brightness was increased, as well as the curves setting, to correct the imbalance of light in some areas of the photo. The river also provides depth in the image, from larger reflections in the front, to shadows of the trees in the back.
Compare and Contrast: These images were taken of branches over a river. One difference is the type of tree; the first photo captures hemlock branches over the Cedar River, whereas the second photo captures maple branches over the river at Island Park. However, they both show a river with a brown tint, at a similar angle. Also, "Untitled" is cropped right at the trees, but "Hanging" reveals a section of the sky. Both photographs frame a similar location.
Compare and Contrast: These images were taken of branches over a river. One difference is the type of tree; the first photo captures hemlock branches over the Cedar River, whereas the second photo captures maple branches over the river at Island Park. However, they both show a river with a brown tint, at a similar angle. Also, "Untitled" is cropped right at the trees, but "Hanging" reveals a section of the sky. Both photographs frame a similar location.