shutter [ ] photography magazine
History of PHOTOGRAPHY
through
AMERICA’S viewfinder
Richard Avedon What inspires his photography
shutter [ ] photography magazine
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR Have a passion for photography? Well you’ve have picked the perfect magazine for inspirational and perfectly composed photography. As you all know, every week Shutter focuses on an individual, professional photographer. In this month’s issue you were learn all about Richard Averdon, a professional photographer who inspires many other photographers throughout the industry. If you love photography they way he does, you’re guaranteed to be inspired as well. Feel free to contact me via our website, www.shuttermagazine.com, and let me know what you think of the magazine. Enjoy the issue and also take a look at our website where you can find out more information on Richard Avedon as well as tons of other professional photographers throughout the industry.
h G u o r h
T
America’s
r e d n i f View
RICHARD
AVEDON
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
B
orn in New York in 1923, Richard Avedon dropped out of high school and joined the Merchant Marine’s photographic section. Upon his return in 1944, he found a job as a photographer in a department store. Within two years he had been “found” by an art director at Harper’s Bazaar and was producing work for them as well as Vogue, Look, and a number of other magazines. During the early years, Avedon
es regularly contain the dark outline of the film in which the image was framed. Within the minimalism of his empty studio, Avedon’s subjects move freely, and it is this movement which brings a sense of spontaneity to the images. Often containing only a portion of the person being photographed, the images seem intimate in their imperfection. While many photographers are interested in either catching a moment in time or preparing a formal image, Avedon has found a way to do both. Beyond his work in the magazine industry, Avedon has collaborated on a number of books of portraits. In 1959 he worked with Truman Capote on a book that documented some of the most fa-
made his living primarily through work in adver- mous and important people of the century. Obtising. His real passion, however, was the portrait servations included images of Buster Keaton, and its ability to express the essence of its subject. Gloria Vanderbilt, Pablo Picasso, Dr. J. Robert As Avedon’s notoriety grew, so did the oppor- Oppenheimer, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mae tunities to meet and photograph celebrities from West. Around this same time he began a series of a broad range of disciplines. Avedon’s ability images of patients in mental hospitals. Replacing to present personal views of public figures, who the controlled environment of the studio with that were otherwise distant and inaccessible, was im- of the hospital he was able to recreate the genius mediately recognized by the public and the ce- of his other portraits with non-celebrities. The brulebrities themselves. Many sought out Avedon for tal reality of the lives of the insane was a bold their most public images. His artistic style brought contrast to his other work. Years later he would a sense of sophistication and authority to the again drift from his celebrity portraits with a seportraits. More than anything, it is Avedon’s abil- ries of studio images of drifters, carnival workers, ity to set his subjects at and working class AmerIn 1992, Richard Avedon beease that helps him creicans. In 1992 he beate true, intimate, and came the first staffed photog- came the first staff pholasting photographs. tographer for The New rapher for The New Yorker, and Yorker, and two years Throughout his career then two years later the Whit- later the Whitney MuAvedon has maintained seum brought together a unique style all his own. ney Museum recovered and fifty years of his work in Famous for their minimalthe retrospective, “Richism, Avedon portraits brought together fifty years of ard Avedon: Evidence”. are often well lit and in his work in the retrospective, He was voted one of front of white backdrops. the ten greatest photogWhen printed, the imag- “Richard Avedon: Evidence.” raphers in the world.
Avedon died on October 1st, 2004.