Photography in museums and archives is a unique medium for preserving the past. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, animation, virtual reality, and augmented reality each have their place in depicting and preserving the past in museums and archives. Photography is a unique depiction of moments in time.

Photography as an art and documentary medium earned its place in museums and archival records in the first quarter of the 1800s. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a scientist in soul, is credited with producing the oldest surviving photograph from a camera. It has been anointed with the title, View from the Window at Le Gras. It is a heliographic image which is discussed in a short essay The First Photograph by Barbara Brown, Head of Photograph Conservation, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin.

The Challenges of Preserving Photographs, the Windows to the Past

The Window at Le Gras is a window to the past that challenges the present and future to create a solution for preserving photographs. Bob Dylan said, “inside the museum, infinity goes on trial.” Preserving the exhibitions for infinity is challenging. At barely 200 years old, the photograph is a relatively new addition to museums and historical archives that presents unique preservation challenges.

Museums and archives face similar challenges in preserving their collections and exhibition items. Light, time, temperature, humidity, catastrophic events, and accidents are the enemies of art, artifacts, documents, and photographs.

Protecting Photographs and Their Negatives

Museums and archives continue to add massive amounts of photographs to their collections. It requires a plan and continued funding for preservation, storage, and display. Photographs, like all art, need to be protected for infinity from the ravages of time, temperature, humidity, and dangers. The process of creating a photograph is inherently fragile. The negative from which it was printed, and the paper on which it’s printed are all susceptible to the elements and time.

The age of microfilm was seen as a solution for storage until it became clear that it too was susceptible to the damages of time and temperature. As each new storage solution comes online, museums, archive boards, and curators must have a plan to transfer photograph collections to the latest storage techniques so that infinity may judge the past, present, and future art of photographs.

Storing digital files in the Cloud is seen as a solution. Like storage innovations of the past, the Cloud will reveal its flaws. Corrupted files and damaged hardware are just two things that can go wrong with storing photographs in the cloud. Redundant copies of digital collections secured at multiple sites may be a practical solution.

 Photographers as Curators

Photographers should plan to preserve their work in the digital age with redundancy at multiple cloud storage enterprises around the world. Living photographers are the ultimate curator of their work even when showing or placing their photographs in the care of museums and archives.

Michael Grecco curated and made preservation contingency plans for his muti-media show featuring work from his “Days of Punk” period. The show was at the Centro Cultural de Cascais, in Cascais, Portugal from October 15, 2023 to January 28, 2024. It was produced by the D. Luís I Foundation, with the collaboration of the Cascais City Council.

This exhibit was made possible because of the care that Michael Grecco took to preserve his past as a photographer with intimate access over fifty years ago during the early days of the international punk era. The Days of Punk exhibit at Centro Cultural de Cascais featured over 100 high-quality prints from the thousands that Michael Grecco shot and carefully preserved for infinity and summarized in this short video.

Michael Grecco & Elizabeth Waterman: A Duet of Artistry at the Leica Gallery

When two dynamic fine art photographers decide to showcase their work side by side, you know you’re in for a visual treat. Michael Grecco and Elizabeth Waterman, both prominent Los Angeles-based fine art photographers (and an artistic power couple, might we add) are gearing up to delight us with their unique insights into two very different subcultures.

Grecco’s “DAYS OF PUNK”: A Trip Back to Raw Energy

Michael’s journey into punk began in the Boston music scenes between 1978 and 1991. His captivating multimedia exhibition, “DAYS OF PUNK”, is an exploration into punk music’s raw energy and rebellious culture. While it premiered at Photo London in late 2021, LA is gearing up for its debut showing at the Leica Gallery in West Hollywood.

Ever the club kid, Grecco imprinted himself into the punk scene both as its recorder and as a fervent participant. Some of these photos remained hidden for decades, only to be brought into the light by his archivist. This hidden treasure was transformed into his best-selling book, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face, 1978–1991. Through his images, we see icons like The Clash, Devo, The B-52s, and many more. The exhibition promises to be an immersive experience, offering not just photographs but also related soundscapes produced alongside the cult band Mission of Burma.

Waterman’s “MONEYGAME”: Behind the Glitz of the Strip Clubs

Elizabeth Waterman brings a contrasting yet equally profound collection to the gallery. “MONEYGAME” is a deep dive into the world of strippers in the US. Over five years, Waterman frequented nightclubs in cities like New York, Miami, and Las Vegas. The trust and intimacy she fostered with her subjects are evident in every shot, whether it’s an onstage performance, a backstage rest, or a candid makeup session.

Elizabeth offers a fresh, empathetic female perspective on the lives of these women, some of whom use their earnings to pay off debts, provide for their families, or even launch businesses. She has also extended her portfolio internationally, capturing images in Bangkok and giving voice to trans and plus-size stripper communities.

The Grand Opening

Curated by Paris Chong, the Leica Gallery Los Angeles Director, the two exhibitions open their doors on September 24 with an artists’ reception from 6-8PM. If you’re keen on experiencing this blend of cultures, you can catch the shows until November 5.

A Few Words from the Maestros

“The spirit of Punk was extraordinary. As you look at these images, I hope you also get touched by its infectious freedom,” shares Michael Grecco about his collection. Elizabeth Waterman, speaking of her experiences while curating “MONEYGAME”, mentions, “I’ve taken on some of their audacity.”

More About the Artists

Michael Grecco, originally from New York City, began his photography career in Boston. He’s celebrated internationally for his compelling celebrity portraits, music photography, advertising photography, and more. He’s contributed his works to revered publications like Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone.

Elizabeth Waterman hails from Taos, New Mexico, and has a rich history in documenting artists and performers across a spectrum of genres. Her evocative, cinematic style beautifully captures stories that lie beneath the surface.

This art-filled autumn promises to be an experience that LA won’t forget in a hurry. So, mark your calendars and make sure you don’t miss out on this dual extravaganza at the Leica Gallery.