Untitled

1884

Stays in Germany for photography

In 1884 his parents returned to America, but the 20-year-old Alfred stayed in Germany: he collected books on photography, bought his first camera, an 8 × 10 plate camera, and travelled through the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, photographing landscapes and country workers. Photography, he later wrote, “fascinated me, first as a toy, then as a passion, then as an obsession.”

1887

First prize for “The Last Joke, Bellagio”

His photograph The Last Joke, Bellagio won first place in the annual photography competition of the British magazine Amateur Photographer.

1888

First and second prizes in the same competition

The following year his works took both first and second places in the same competition. His reputation grew sharply, and British and German magazines began publishing his photographs.

1890

His sister Flora dies; he returns to New York

In 1890 his sister Flora died in childbirth, and Stieglitz returned to New York. Considering himself an artist, he refused to sell his photographs, so his father bought him a small photography business, the Photochrome Engraving Company, which rarely made a profit because of his demand for quality and the high wages he paid.

spring 1893

Co-editor of The American Amateur Photographer

In the spring of 1893 Stieglitz became co-editor of The American Amateur Photographer but refused a salary: his Photochrome company was now printing the magazine's photogravures, and he wanted to avoid any appearance of bias.

c. 16.11.1893

Married: Emmeline Stieglitz