I will show the original photos and how I edited them to emulate the photographic movement known as Pictorialism that started in the 1880s.

For some context: The Pictorialism movement was a rejection towards straight photography, meaning photos that were pure and merely for recording. Pictorialist photographers, at the time, wanted photography as a medium to be respected and held in high regard just like paintings were. They wanted photography to be seen as an artform that could also be featured in exhibitions and other art institutions.

Characteristics of Pictorialism are soft, dream-like, sometimes 'fuzzy', and grainy. The aim was to mimic the same quality of impressionistic paintings. Photos tended to blur the lines of what was real.

Here are my photos before and after.

Pictorialist photographers who inspired my work are Peter Henry Emerson and George Davison.

Title: "Abandoned House" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

In this photo, I was inspired by Peter Henry Emerson to explore a different vantage point in my own work. The subject was an abandoned house on a local trail. This house was mysterious to me and I didn’t know the story behind why it was in such poor condition. I am naturally intrigued by abandoned places and things and was excited to capture it in time. In my own work, I realize that I usually shoot photos in a fixed perspective, and I wanted to change that in my exploration of Pictorialism. I kept myself at a distance and also focused on capturing the surroundings. I considered the framing and wanted the trees in the background to add visual interest. I was happy with how this photo turned out because the end result gives off a mysterious vibe. Additionally, the large trees create contrast against the rest of the image. The lighting in the center of the grass made for a nice highlight as well. As I edited this photo, I wanted to explore creating a more out-of-focus, soft, and grainy appearance. I thought about what details I wanted to keep, and which ones weren’t needed as I played around with effects and adjustments. 

Title: "Look At The Bright Side" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

This was the shed beside the abandoned house. The light shining down from the side piqued my interest and I thought it was visually stunning and held a positive message. This photo makes me think of the saying - “I am broken, but I am still here” and “Look at the bright side.” This shed is in such disrepair, and it was a mess inside. I am again left to wonder what happened here. Studying Emerson’s style helped me to create the meaning behind this photo and really bring out the light as the focal point in this image, thanks to the added contrast.

Title: "Decaying Kilns" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

I once studied the history behind these cement kilns. These are the last remaining kilns. Some of them are in a terrible state of ruin with weeds growing out from the bricks. If you’re there in person, you can also see the many fallen bricks scattered on the ground. I knew I wanted to take a photo of the kilns as they stand proud and tall, symbolizing the ghost of days past when this area thrived and business was booming. In a way, the image can almost feel haunting because one day these kilns might collapse completely and be gone forever. A piece of history that can never truly be preserved. Emerson’s work and philosophy on naturalism and pictorialism, inspired me to try adding vignettes to my photos. I like how they create a more dream-like feel to this image. I also think of an eye about to blink. This can make viewers think of what happens when we blink, will these kilns fall then?

Title: "Follow The Light" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

For this photograph, I captured this viewpoint so viewers could feel like they were walking down this trail. I loved the way the sun’s rays shot through the trees and created a sort of pathway of light. There was an internal voice that went “follow the light.” I like the serenity and warmth this photo exudes. This is one of my favorite pieces. As I explored what types of landscape photos to take, I kept thinking about how George Davison would go about taking a photo. I aimed to photograph areas that spoke to me the loudest. 

Title: "You Have A Choice To Make" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

This was experimental for me. I found that this vantage point and angle held a deep meaning for me. “You have a choice to make” is what I imagine a voice would say. The viewer is free to interpret this image however they like. For me, it means I can move onward and upward and refuse to give up or get stuck down where I am and drown in my never-ending worries. Having this image also be fuzzy helped create that uncertain feeling. The viewer’s mind could feel fuzzy and confused. No path is clear from the start. The only way to find out is to make a choice and walk down a chosen path.

Title: "Solace" (2022) Photographed by BattyNSaNe Gaming

Solace is a piece that isn’t as fuzzy as the others. It’s a bit clearer, yet it still contains a bit of lower focus and a blur effect. I wanted this shot to feel like something out of a fantasy scene or Cottagecore storybook. The viewer steps through trees and leaves and discovers a nice and quiet getaway, finding solace in nature. I wanted to emulate more of Davison’s beautiful shots. The framing of this photo, along with the vignette, gives off a dreamy vibe. The vignette also adds to the storybook feel, like how illustrations in children's books are created.

I would like to continue exploring this style and try it out on liminal space shots.