Camera-less photographer research - Willie Anne Wright Pinhole

Willie Anna Wright 

Willie Anna Wright was born 6th June 1924, in Richmond, Virginia. She is an American photographer who is first known for her painting and later known for her pinhole photographs. Wright began as a artist, using paint and teaching classes. It wasn't until 1972 when she began more photographic art, focusing on the camera-less technique of pinhole photography. She studied at college of William & Mary and Maine Photographic workshops in New York, where one of her first assignments was to construct a pinhole camera, with many unsuccessful outcomes and few experiences in the darkroom she continued to perfect her technique. This is where everything spiralled from. Wright photographed many different subjects from landscape shots to fruit and vegetables and portraits, she also used different medias like greyscale and full colour pinhole images. In 1988 Wright went and bought a world famous Santa Barbara pinhole camera. 

The process
Pinhole photographs are made without using a camera, but with just a light proof cardboard box and photographic paper. You have to insert the photographic paper in to the box in a dark room/ light controlled area. Then you can go out and find a subject, When you are ready you have to open the flap exposing the pinhole to the light for a short period of time such as, 20 seconds. Only then can you take you image into the darkroom chemicals for it to develop.

The Canoe 1974 4"x 5" 

The pinhole image looks like a lake in the countryside with a canoeist almost centred. The canoeist is within the foreground, with a lake and hills in the background. This image makes me think he is alone and lonely which gives off a glum or moody feeling, or maybe he is trying to escape and have sometime to himself. He could be enjoying the surroundings doing his favourite hobby. This image is made using the pinhole method with Wrights homemade equipment. She also used the greyscale version, which she started with before moving on to full colour. The image is not black and white it is almost has a brown or grey colour to it. She would have set up the pinhole box in the correct position and then exposed the photographic paper to the light for a set period such as, 30 seconds. When she felt like she had exposed it enough she would take the box with the photographic paper in to the darkroom for the chemicals to develop it. She would have then manually and chemically inverted to pinhole image.

Wrights image gives an eerie feeling and I think Willie Anne Wright intended for it to feel this way as it has a peaceful and calming feel as it gives off the sight of the water rippling causing us to be stress free. I think the purpose of this image is to capture the beauty of nature and lets us know that it is alright to be alone and take time out to enjoy the things we like to do. 

I have chose to evaluate this image because it is one of Wrights earlier pieces of work, when she was new to pinhole photography. I also think it is a very interesting piece as it could have multiple interpretations which links with some of the pinholes I have made. It is relatable to some of my pieces because I chose a more landscape approach to pinhole photography. 

http://www.willieannewright.com

http://www.thepinholecamera.com/take5_willie-anne-wright.php

http://www.jacksonfineart.com/Willie%20Anne%20-Wright.html