Gordon wrote several autobiographies during his lifetime, which are well worth the read. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants to take a deep dive into his life.
Thank you so much. I appreciate you delving into photo history, a subject I find endlessly fascinating. I ran across his work and a bit of his story while researching Dorothea Lange. Are you familiar with Inge Morath?
Yes, an editor with Paris Magnum when it first opened. Close associate of Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Ernst Haas. And, later in life, wife of Arthur Miller until her death. Some great photos. Do you recall the llama with it's head out the window of a vehicle in NYC?
Thank you for these, Andy. Riveting, and a wonderful 'new' glimpse into the heart and soul of his work. I use a digital, but it's old, and - kinda big-looking now. I realized I do feel kinda powerful, but also, kinda shy, wielding it. It's .. noticeable. But I'm not only a girl, but I'm old, so I have a lovely sort of 'invisibility!' Your intrigue leads us all ~ again, grací!
Parks is one of the few photographers who has iconic photographs in his portfolio, worked for major publications, produced significant images as a WPA photographer, was the first Black photographer in so many firsts and had a career in film, yet is still recognized for all of this on a cyclical basis. Unlike some of his peers, Walker Evans immediately comes to my mind, he was everywhere but intermittently under the radar screen, or a footnote, even to many photographers. So glad to see that he, and other Black photographers like Dawoud Bay, are once again coming to the forefront and receiving the attention they deserve.
Gordon wrote several autobiographies during his lifetime, which are well worth the read. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants to take a deep dive into his life.
Fun! I read a little bit about him in my history this past week… it was very interesting.
A top favorite!
Wow so much to dig through here, thanks for putting this together! Can't wait to watch the HBO doc.
Thanks for looking, Leo!
Thank you so much. I appreciate you delving into photo history, a subject I find endlessly fascinating. I ran across his work and a bit of his story while researching Dorothea Lange. Are you familiar with Inge Morath?
Hey, T, only a little bit. Was she with Magnum?
Yes, an editor with Paris Magnum when it first opened. Close associate of Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Ernst Haas. And, later in life, wife of Arthur Miller until her death. Some great photos. Do you recall the llama with it's head out the window of a vehicle in NYC?
Yes! https://kottke.org/17/04/a-llama-in-times-square
That's the one.
Enjoy the rest if you go there.
Thank you for these, Andy. Riveting, and a wonderful 'new' glimpse into the heart and soul of his work. I use a digital, but it's old, and - kinda big-looking now. I realized I do feel kinda powerful, but also, kinda shy, wielding it. It's .. noticeable. But I'm not only a girl, but I'm old, so I have a lovely sort of 'invisibility!' Your intrigue leads us all ~ again, grací!
These are great! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for looking, Jennifer!
Beautiful
There's an American Gothic-sized hole between Suffering of Light and Stranger Passing, no other book will fit...
Parks is one of the few photographers who has iconic photographs in his portfolio, worked for major publications, produced significant images as a WPA photographer, was the first Black photographer in so many firsts and had a career in film, yet is still recognized for all of this on a cyclical basis. Unlike some of his peers, Walker Evans immediately comes to my mind, he was everywhere but intermittently under the radar screen, or a footnote, even to many photographers. So glad to see that he, and other Black photographers like Dawoud Bay, are once again coming to the forefront and receiving the attention they deserve.
It's difficult to choose one image from such a rich legacy.
I find "Off On My Own" to be a haunting psychological representation of isolation.