Photographic MentorHow many people wouldn't give up on their passion? Julia Margaret Cameron (11 June 1815 – 26 January 1879) was a British photographer. She became known for her portraits of celebrities of the time, and for photographs with Arthurian and other legendary themes.1 Some people may have not liked her work but it didn't mean she gave up but instead she continued her work. Although her style was not widely appreciated in her own day, her work has had an impact on modern photographers, especially her closely cropped portraits. I admire her passion for her career and for her not giving up although people didn't like her work. Even though she didn't succeed the first time , she tried again. Most people would say ‘you just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.’ Julia Margaret Cameron’s photos were significant because of her enthusiasm, she strove to capture beauty and her photos are the only existing photograph of historical figures.
Julia Margaret Cameron’s photos were significant because of her enthusiasm. She took up photography later in life at the age forty-eight when her daughter presented her with a camera. This simple gift sparked enthusiasm in Cameron and led her to become one of the most colorful personalities in photography. For example, her enthusiasm for her craft meant that her children and others sometimes tired of her endless photographing, but it also means that we are left with some of the best of records of her children and of the many notable figures of the time who visited her.2 Although there are pictures of Julia Margaret, all of portraits of her follow her other portraits, a long far off look. For instance, in this photo she handing something to someone but she seems as if she is sad and isn't there, a long distant look.
Julia Margaret Cameron’s photos were significant because she strove to capture beauty. For example, She wrote, "I longed to arrest all the beauty that came before me and at length the longing has been satisfied."3 This picture may show a woman looking very sad but the beauty behind it is that the peaceful look of the baby sleeping. It is almost as if the woman yearns to have that peaceful slumber. She approaches beauty from another angle or point of view. For instance, people may think this photo as no beauty but they should know everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. Her portraits were ethereal, soft-focus, and sensual. She produced close-cropped portraits of children and young women, as well as dreamy allegorical and historical tableaux, all in the pursuit of “arresting beauty”.
Julia Margaret Cameron’s photos were significant because her photos are the only
existing photograph of historical figures. she access to models by way of her own children
and servants, and even to celebrities by way of her sister, who hosted a regular salon in Kensington that brought the cream of the literary and artistic world together on a regular basis. In many cases, her portraits of the great figures of the day are the only — or in some cases, the best — that survive. Ellen Terry, Charles Darwin, Lord Robert Browning, William Rossetti — her lens opened and closed on a brief moment Tennyson, of time in each of their fascinating, turbulent lives. Many paintings and drawings exist, but, at the time, photography was still a new and challenging for someone outside a typical portrait studio. Her mesmerizing portraits and figure studies on literary and biblical themes were unprecedented in her time and remain among the most highly admired of Victorian photographs. Even though these historical figures were important, at times it could get lonely and tiring, as you can see in this photo Ellen Terry’s sadness.
In conclusion, I would like to talk about how my photo portrays what Julia’s intent was. In my photo I was trying to portray that long far away look and sadness that her subjects feel and I think the reason she takes these picture is because she wanted to study nature attentively, so as to know how to express them. Because Julia was from a family of celebrated beauties, and was considered an ugly duckling among her sisters, I think she was trying to say everything is beautiful no matter what it is. Thus, Julia Margaret Cameron’s photos were significant because of her enthusiasm, she strove to capture beauty and her photos are the only existing photograph of historical figures.
- "Julia Margaret Cameron." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 09 Jan. 2013.
- "Julia Margaret Cameron." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 09 Jan. 2013.
- "Julia Margaret Cameron." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.
