Henry Peach Robinson and Peter Henry Emerson were two prominent pioneers in the art of photography of the 19th century. Both of them viewed the newly created form of image capture as a medium for the expression of art, but their views on the nature of the movement were radically different. Robinson adhered to older, classical ideas while Emerson attempted to promote a simplified approach unique to photography.
Robinson viewed the new technology as an extension of the visual arts of the past. As such, he supported practices such as image combining, which allowed him to capture images that would not otherwise have been legible due to low-light scenarios. However, the approach also allowed the user to alter the contents of the photo to give them a more dramatic or exaggerated appearance. The results were similar to classical painting, where the artist could emphasize the parts he or she found interesting.
Emerson took a more naturalistic approach, claiming that photographs were a more accurate representation of reality than any other art medium due to their ability to directly project reality onto the film. As such, he opposed any form of manipulation of the resultant images, including Robinson’s preferred practice. Nevertheless, Emerson considered photography art and not a simple reproduction, as it could represent real situations that the creator considered to have artistic value.
The views of both Robinson and Emerson have continued their existence into the present day. Tools for image manipulation are potent and see widespread use, particularly in graphic design. However, when it comes to photography as art, Emerson’s opinion is prevalent, as camera operators strive to find scenes that express an emotion or message strongly and to capture them as-is to convey the impact to the viewer.