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Judith H. Dobrzynski on Culture

Notes On Photographs Comes To Life: A Wiki

The George Eastman House needs you! Maybe.

Last April, it announced the creation of The Center for the Legacy of Photography, as well as Notes On Photographs, a collaborative wiki website at which curators, conservators, collectors and the general public would be able to share knowledge about photographic prints — the camera, the process, the inscriptions, the age, and so on.

IMG129673.jpgI wrote about it all then, and now there’s more to report. A recent Eastman House newsletter announced that the site, “dedicated to illustrating key aspects of a photographer’s work,” is now available.

In truth, the site needs much more content. Emily Welch, the project’s manager, tells me that the pages for Alvin Langdon Coburn, Lewis Wickes Hine, and Frederick Henry Evans (his Lincoln Cathedral, 1895, is at right) are “well-populated.” Have a look.

But this is where you may come in — at three possible levels. Those pages are curated, by “invited” curators with proven expertise who volunteer to take responsibility for an article or topic. The curator assesses contributed information and revises a page as appropriate. It’s all archived in the wiki histories, so everyone can see decisions about content.

Say you’re not in that category.

If you’re just an interested member of the public, you can take part in discussions once you register at the site.

IMG120533.jpgAnd if you want a level in between — to contribute, but not curate, you submit your bona fides to the NOP staff, and they agree or not to give you contributor status. Current contributors include conservators, museum professionals, academics, practitioners, collectors, gallerists, or those with materials-based experience–for example, people who were or are involved in the manufacture of photographic materials.

Here’s an example of a technical page, this one on Kodak color prints, 1942-2008.

If all this is beyond your interest in photography, no matter: the GEH website has posted many pieces from its collection online, where you can browse to your heart’s content. That’s John Pfahl’s Bethlehem #16, Lackawanna, 1988, above.

Photos: Courtesy George Eastman House

 

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About Judith H. Dobrzynski

Now an independent journalist, I've worked as a reporter in the culture and business sections of The New York Times, and been the editor of the Sunday business section and deputy business editor there as well as a senior editor of Business Week and the managing editor of CNBC, the cable TV

About Real Clear Arts

This blog is about culture in America as seen through my lens, which is informed and colored by years of reporting not only on the arts and humanities, but also on business, philanthropy, science, government and other subjects. I may break news, but more likely I will comment, provide

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