Julia Margaret Cameron:
Julia received her first camera in 1863 from one of her six children when she was 48 years old. She’d have no idea how to work it, and taught herself while her husband tended to the plantation. The camera was meant to be used for recreational art so that she wouldn’t get bored, yet she took it upon herself to become a professional photographer, successfully selling her prints. Posing for her wasn’t an easy task, as she was an artist with a specific vision and since the exposures were slow, models would have to stay perfectly still with heavy headpieces. Julia was reportedly unorganized as well. The men in the Photographic Society of Scotland didn’t like her prints of celebrities, which upset her. However, she ended up winning a gold medal for her images in Berlin, (Daniel, Malcolm).
Gertrude Kasebier:
Gertrude was born May 18, 1853 in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1868, she attended the Moravian Seminary for Women (at the time, the best women’s school) and then the Pratt Institute for painting in 1889. She studied photography on her own in the school library, and in 1894 won two photography contests. She switched her focus from landscapes to portraits during a year-long trip to Europe. Her portraits became very popular, with her use of few props and simple backgrounds. She later became one of the founders of the Photo-Secession group, (Oden, Lori).
Women & Photography in general:
Many women who found work in the photography field started as retouchers, then camera operators, then finally owning a gallery. Photography during that time was one of the only acceptably professions for a woman, which made the art very popular. Women who got paid for photography were admired as daring and remarkable. The Progressive Era allowed women to get involved in new jobs. Photography appealed to women both in middle and high classes. Most women learned the basics from family members, and many even inherited studios, (Palmquist, Peter).
Bibliography:
Daniel, Malcolm. “Google Images.” Google Images. N.p., Oct. 2004. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
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