Belated Observance

[Sheetshooter]

Yesterday, October 1, marked the first anniversary of the passing of my great hero: Richard Avedon. My how time flies!!

Coincidentally, his former studio has changed ownership and is now available for rental at $1,400.00 per day under the name of Studio A - I can feel a pilgrimage to the hallowed space coming on. Now, who to shoot there?

Read more here:

http://pdnonline.com/pdn/newswire/artic ... 1001218866

Cheers,

[lejazzcat]

Shooter - I share your sense of loss and awe of this master , so i've been pondering buying his autobiography .
Have you read it ?

"The art of seeing is the beginning of art." — Richard Avedon

[Dug]

He was a giant his work so simple and direct have you seen any of the series he was working on when he died?

Especially the images of American troops going to and coming home from Iraq.

very moving stuff.

[Sheetshooter]

I started collecting Avedon monographs as a mere lad back in 1965 - Nothing Personal was the first I bought.

I have been rewarded and enthralled by the incredible depth of his work right from the word go. I even bought New Yorker to see his weekly theatre shot.

Having had a fair crack at 8x10 portraiture myself I am well versed in just how competent he was (and in his ability to surround himself with good technicians to do the donkey work while he stuck with the actual photography).

I have actually wondered whether that final series will make it as a special monograph. Strange coincidence that he should start his career photographing anonymous military men and that his very last image should also be of a severely injured soldier from the Baghdad campain.

I have not unpacked my books after the relocation as yet so I may haver the name wrong, but I can strongly recommend Laura Wilson's book of her exploits with Uncle Dick (as he was called in New York photo circles) in shooting IN THE AMERCICAN WEST.

I can think of no more fitting end for a photograpaher than to meet your end with your face in the gorund glass setting up a shot. I hope I am so lucky.

Cheers, and have a tipple for Uncle Dick.