New Photography at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two new glorious exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art make you fall in love with the art of photography:
Depth of Field: Modern Photography at the Metropolitan surprisingly showcases recent artists in a museum known for antiquities. The exhibit includes grand scale works by Cindy Sherman, Jeff Wall, Adam Fuss, Andreas Gursky and others. With approximately 2,000 square feet of exhibition space, these important art pieces are displayed in the new Joyce and Robert Menschel Hall of Modern Photography. The gallery allows photography to play a more prominent role among the classics that the museum is known for, and continues the commitment to media displayed in the recent landmark exhibition Closed Circuit: Video and New Media at the Metropolitan.

More in keeping with the Metropolitan's traditional offerings, the exhibit Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860 showcases calotypes. These are rare photographs made from paper negatives from the earliest days of the medium. Because the calotype was especially well suited for travel and the hot and dusty climate of India, there are many prints of exotic, majestic locales. While this sprawling display of art may not have the same punch as the large scale moderns displayed across the hall, they do offer a rare opportunity to deeply study a unique moment in photography's history.

Scoop: If you love the museum, you can become a member for a mere $95. But if you want to pay per time, know that the $20 donation price is but a suggestion. Support the arts and give as much as possible, but for poor, starving artists a couple of bucks will do. Beware the fantastic gift shop which will tempt tempt tempt you with wonderful jewelry, books, cards and art offerings galore.