Imogen Cunningham American photographer Date of Birth: 12.04.1883 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Photographic Beginnings
3. Return to Seattle and the "F/64 Group"
4. Plant and Industrial Photography
5. Street Photography and Later Years

Early Life and Education

Imogen Cunningham was born in Portland, Oregon, on April 12, 1883. At the age of 18, she purchased a camera but quickly lost interest and sold it to a friend. In 1906, while attending the University of Washington in Seattle, she encountered the works of Gertrude Käsebier, rekindling her interest in photography. With the guidance of chemistry professor Horace Byers, Cunningham mastered photography and earned money by photographing plants for the botany department.

Photographic Beginnings

After graduating in 1907, Cunningham began working for Edward Curtis in his Seattle studio, gaining experience in portraiture. In 1909, she was awarded a traveling fellowship and, on the advice of her chemistry professor, journeyed to Dresden, Germany, to study under Professor Robert Luther.

Return to Seattle and the "F/64 Group"

Upon returning to Seattle, Cunningham established her own photography studio. In 1913, she became a member of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Her portraits were exhibited in New York City at the 1914 International Exhibition of Pictorial Photography, and her portfolio was published in Wilson's Photographic Magazine.

In 1932, Cunningham co-founded the "Group f/64," a group of photographers who advocated for sharp focus and precise composition. She contributed 10 works to the influential 1929 "Film und Foto" exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany.

Plant and Industrial Photography

In the 1920s, Cunningham's focus shifted to plant photography and later to industrial landscapes. She moved to San Francisco in 1920 and became a teacher at Mills College. Her style underwent a transformation during this period, emphasizing simplicity and clarity.

Street Photography and Later Years

In the 1940s, Cunningham turned her attention to street photography while continuing to do commercial work. She also became a teacher at the California School of Fine Arts. Cunningham passed away on June 24, 1976, in San Francisco, at the age of 93. A crater on Mercury is named in her honor.