Karen Ghostlaw

Bio.

Coming out of the 1970s, photographers began to redefine the medium of photography, abandoning the documentation of the moment and embracing old concepts of “idea photography”.  “Idea Photography” practices and influences were developed and supported by a group of Pictorialists brought together by Alfred Stieglitz in the early 1900s. Stieglitz believed Pictorialism was a way of observing and translating the world through the lens of a camera as the beauty of the subject matter, tonality, illumination, and composition rather than a documentation of reality in that moment. 

In 1981 while studying at Pratt Institute, Karen Ghostlaw began her journey behind the lens, becoming a Pictorialist, utilizing her camera as a means of expression. In her earliest classes with American Photographer William Gedney, she explored the nude figure, apprehending the human body and stepping into an intimate world. Figure drawing with a camera, she explored human forms defined by light and shadow. A group of women in a collective moment of innocence, dancing with freedom of expression and joy. This photograph speaks to the deep-rooted primal desires of humanity to make honest and authentic connections through movement. The collective becomes a united entity of pure expression. A singular male figure explores the contrasting elements of geometry against the softness of flesh, composing the curvilinear human form in studio light. These investigations allowed young eyes to explore freely, make sketches, and develop their senses, honing their abilities to use the camera to define the subject in a multitude of ways through the lens. 

Photo 101 examines the beginnings of Karen’s practices in visual storytelling. Her explorations led to the critical and creative processes that define her photography in new and unusual ways. The opening of these archives are an examination of Karen’s foundation in art and photography, visually illuminating how she has learned to translate the world around her.