Photography: The Incisive Art; Points of View

Katz, Robert A. · June 2, 1960

"Photography is a language, capable of expressing many things in many ways." This episode shows Ansel Adams photographing an old house and its inhabitants from many different perspectives and with many different purposes in mind. He shows how a tax assessor, a real estate agent, a decorator, a sociologist, a historian, a reporter or a salon photographer might reflect the house in their lenses. He then shows how the house and its inhabitants can reveal themselves to the sensitive photographer, and through him, to a wide audience. "Those photographers who explore, distill and interpret the intangible essence of the world can truly be called photo-poets," says Adams. This episode shows such a photo-poet at work. Shot in Pescadero, California (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) From station KQED in San Francisco comes a series of 5 episodes designed to increase the viewers appreciation of the art of photography. Featuring one of Americas greatest photographers, Ansel Adams, the series is an exploration of the techniques and philosophy which can transform photography from a mechanical record to a delicate and sensitive art. Because television is a medium which appeals to the eye as well as to the ear of the audience, it is a particularly appropriate means of explaining photographic theory, of illustrating techniques as they are being used, and of showing the results of these techniques at the same time. Producer: Robert Katz. Guitar: Joseph Bacon Piano: LeRoy Miller, Ansel Adams (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)