Weekly Post: August Sander

August Sander (1876-1964), the last image is his self portrait. His work included landscapes, nature, architecture, and street photography but is best known for his portraiture. He is considered the important German portrait photographer of the early twentieth century. In his portraits he uses natural lighting and sets up the background, paying particular attention to what was included or excluded. He does this to give a controlled and intentional hint at the origin and profession of the sitter through the background or through clothes, hairstyle, gesture or props. I've always been fascinated with the timeless feel to the black and white images. They make me wonder what it was like to live in that time period. If life was simpler and decisions were clearer and easier to make.