Imogen Cunningham was an American photographer born in Portland, Oregon in 1883. She studied chemistry in Germany and worked for Vanity Fair magazine. Cunningham is known for her botanical, nude, and portrait photographs made using large format cameras. Her photos emphasize natural lighting and intricate compositions. Some of her most famous subjects included magnolia blossoms, Martha Graham, and Frida Kahlo. Cunningham had a long career and helped establish photography as a fine art form. She died in San Francisco in 1976.

1. April 12, 1883 – June 24, 1976Imogen Cunningham“Imo”By Debra A. MurphyEDU 703Professor Peter SmithApril 18, 2011

2. Born :Portland Oregon – April 12, 1883Educated:Technische Hochschule – Dresden, Germany ChemistryContemporaries:Alvin Langden Coburn

3. Alfred Stieglitz

4. Gertrude Kasebier

5. Ansel Adams

6. Dorothea Lange

7. Minor WhiteExhibits:Brooklyn Academy of Arts and Sciences

8. An International Exhibition of Pictorial PhotographyEmployment:Vanity Fair Magazine

9. Faculty Member California School of Fine Arts.Died:June 24, 1976 – San Francisco CaliforniaIntroduction

10. Magnolia-Blossom, 1925BotanicalsIn this close up the subject is clearly the Magnolia Blossom with the subject matter extending beyond the border.

11. Tulip Tree, 1934BotanicalsThe Tulip Tree was captured with Natural Light and a Large Format Camera. The angle of the camera adds depth.

12. Tower of Jewels, 1925BotanicalsExtreme Close-up of the inside of a Magnolia is intensified by the effects of the lighting . Imogen made an extended study of Magnolias for 1923-1925

13. Magnolia Bud, 1920’sBotanicalsAll about the light, this image gains its impact from the dark backdrop and the lighting from the right creating a shadow on the left.

14. Portia Hume 2, ~1930NudesImogen began to photograph nudes in the early 1900's, and created a series of focused nude studies in the late 20's and early 30's. This print has a great sense of depth with a warm tone and nice detail in the highlights.

15. Triangles, 1928NudesTriangles has become one of Imogen's well-known nudes. Imogen made this 4x5 inch negative, and after developing the negative, she wrote on the file folder, "The One!“ Again, lighting and the close up nature of the photo intensifies the impact.

16. Triangles Plus 1, 1928NudesJackie and Helen Greaves, “Imo’s” friends who she photographed both alone and together.