Paul Strand did not quickly develop his mature style of
photography, nor was he a photographic prodigy. However, Strand had a
determination that allowed for his style to grow and establish. Ben Maddow
states, “Strand's work habits were governed by the same unforgiving will.” * Strand was extremely particular about all aspects included in the
process of capturing his photographs. Whether it was the tone of the sky or the
way the clouds had formed in the sky, it all mattered and had an extreme
significance towards the final image. With his persistence and need for
accuracy, Strand found himself getting his camera professionally altered so
that only the film that was necessary for the size of the image was exposed. Some
believe that the obsessive nature of Strand’s work ethic stems from inner
tribulations that plague his mind. “Such a precaution was nothing less than
symbolic of what, I suspect, was a conflict at the deepest roots of his
personality.” * This constant persistence to produce immaculate
works of art undoubtedly lead to the fierce criticism of his own work. Strand
took the phrase, “You are your worst critic”, and seemingly ran with it. When
looking through negatives to select an image to be enlarged, if he ran across a
negative that he was not please with he would immediately tear it up and
dispose of it on site. Strand overall was very well known for his disgust in
mediocre or “almost- good” photographs. With Paul Strand nothing but the best
was acceptable.
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