Gustave Le Gray (1820 - 1884)

Gustave Le Gray (1820 - 1884)

He has been called "the most important French photographer of the nineteenth century" because of his technical innovations in the still new medium of photography, his role as the teacher of other noted photographers, and "the extraordinary imagination he brought to picture making".

Around 1850 Gustave introduced the dry "waxed" paper negative, which meant that the negative paper could be coated and kept out up to two weeks before exposure and did not have to be developed for a couple of days after exposure. His technical innovations, as well as the combination of two negatives, lend his photographs a truthful sense of how the eye perceives nature.

In 1860, he abruptly left Paris for Egypt where he died in 1882. Le Gray is considered as one of the most important French photographers of the nineteenth century.

Steamboat

Palerme

This black and white photograph is beautiful. I really like how the rays of the sun are visible through the clouds. This definitely adds visual appeal to the photograph. It also seems like he used the rule of thirds to put the focus of the photograph on where the sun would be. The ship sailing under the dark clouds gives the photograph a slightly ominous feel which I think is quite interesting.

 To me, what makes this photograph so interesting is the fact that the lighthouse is centered. I also think that the emerging clouds cast an ominous feel over this photograph as well. It seems like a storm is building up. It also seems to me like Le Gray used a colored filter to give the photograph the beautiful tint.

The Beech Tree (circa 1856)

Zouaves of the French Imperial Guard at Camp de Châlons, by Gustave Le Gray, 1857.