1. Alfred Stieglitz
Self-Portrait
1907
As is the case in painting, photographic portraits are often very staged, formal types of images. The artist sets the stage for us, the viewer, to see the subject in whatever particular light he or she wishes. This is even more so in the case of self-portraits. What does this artist want us to know about him? What type of personality is he projecting through this work of art?

2. Alexander Rodchenko
The Critic Osip Brik
1924
In many early photographs, the subject of portraits are often shown with a very sincere expression on their faces. Why do you think this is the case? Is it an expressive choice of the artist or is it a limitation of the medium?

3. The landscape has been a popular subject matter for artists since the 17th century. Artists have represented all manner of scenery ranging from the pristine, untouched wilderness of North America to the harsh desserts of Africa. This tradition continued with the advent of photography. Why do you think artists have been fascinated with the landscape as a subject for their art? What connection do they want us, the viewer, to make with the scenery?
Ansel Adams
Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park
1942

4. Lewis Hine
Girl Worker in Carolina
Cotton Mill
1908
The art of photography really came into its own as a documentary medium. Photographers captured images of life all around the world that often exposed the hardships of the poor, the atrocities committed in war, the diversity
of cultures, and the extravagancies of the wealthy. Much like the internet and social media of today, photography allowed people to see things that they never knew existed. What effect do you think this new social awareness created by photography had on the average person? What social changes may have come about as a result?

5. For years this image was believed to be a candid photo of a mother and her children living through the troubling times of the great depression. Recent studies of the artist’s work have shed new light on the image and it has been suggested that the artist staged the scene in order to create more impact and aesthetic content. Does the suggestion that the image was “staged” have any impact on your view of the artwork? Does the validity of the artwork decrease in your eyes or does it remain the same? Explain.
Dorothea Lange
Migrant Mother-Nipomo, California
1936