_By _CLARENCE H. WHITE
_President of the Pictorial Photographers of America_
To many people photography is merely a mechanical process. To an
increasing number, however, photography is being seen as an art, by which
personal impressions of nature or human life may be expressed as truly as
by the brush. These workers in photography see in it a medium by which
the action of light upon sensitive surfaces may be so controlled as really
to interpret scenes and persons in the individualistic spirit of a true
art. From every part of our country come evidences of the growing
appreciation of photography as a pictorial medium. Exhibitions in many
museums which have hitherto been indifferent to pictures made with the
lens have opened the eyes of the public to the possibilities of the
camera. Clubs of photographic workers in various cities have maintained
or fostered the movement. The lure of the moving picture has stimulated
the interest of countless multitudes in photography, and the occasional
presentation of fine pictorial work in this direction has given a prophecy
of better things to come. The time, therefore, seems ripe to present in
this book a collection of the work of American pictorial photographers in
all sections of the country. Many of these workers are members of the
organization known as the Pictorial Photographers of America; but the
appeal for photographic material for this book has been confined to no one
society or club, but has been widely inclusive of associations and
individuals, and it is believed that the work here presented is fairly
representative of the best American effort along these lines at the
present time.
It is the hope and intention of the organization that publishes this book
to stimulate interest in this branch of pictorial art. This is believed
to be the first attempt in America to give a comprehensive presentation of
the status of pictorial photography as illustrated by the product of many
of its best workers. As such it is commended to the consideration of
photographers both professional and amateur, of artists and art lovers,
and of the public generally.