After World War II the center of the art world changed from Paris to New York. The European tradition was shunned as artists searched for a new voice. But after a generation of rebellion, artists of the 1970s started to look back again to the classical tradition. What followed could be a case of “lost in translation.”
Has someone ever asked you why you like an image? Beneath the surface of a great picture, there is a geometric design in hiding. In this ‘Great Compositions’ series, we will search for the dynamic symmetry that photographers and artists have used for centuries to create successful works of art.

Merz B. Schwanen

Albstadt & Berlin, Germany

It is said that the soil is Albstadt has four rocks for every potato.  This is why the region became famous for fabric production, rather than farming.  The clothing produced was so famous that when neighboring Bavaria used to invade, they would steal the shirts off the bodies of the Swabian soldiers.

Edvard Munch noted that “colors live a remarkable life of their own after they have been applied to the canvas” and, on this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, Adam Marelli joined the hosts to muse on color theory from a painter’s and a photographer’s point of view. They discussed a few basic terms, learned about Michel Chevreul and Josef Albers, and then get into questions about his use of color, about film color compared to digital, printing, and Marelli’s understanding that colors are never static, and should not be considered such when creating images — look for the subtlety between colors.

I often receive requests from readers and workshop participants alike for additional resources that can inform their development as photographers. As such, I have put together this resources page that compiles my recommendations for books, courses, films, and recommended dealers that have informed my work and can enrich yours as well.