RIP Dennis Stock
16 Jan
The photographer Dennis Stock, died recently aged 81. As so often with camera giants we probably don’t know the name but by God do we remember the photographs. Stock is famous for two shots above all. One is the picture of James Dean walking through a rainy New York, a wonderful portrait of both the man and the city.
The other picture for which he’s famous — though there are many more that deserve praise — was of a Venice Beach rock festival back in 1968: a hippie chick in a loose dress, back to the camera, dancing in front of the crowd. The spirit of the time captured in an instant. You can see them both in a wonderful slide show in the New York Times obituary here — the first and third shots.
Wonderful pictures. Makes me wish you could write in black and white.
Tags: Writing
Truly one of the masters. There is more work available at Magnum. Here's a direct link to the slide show http://tinyurl.com/yc4r4zk
Lovely – thanks! I intend to shoot in b/w a lot in Venice tomorrow, not that the results will be anything close to the work of a true photographer like him.
You might surprise yourself. I've made a living with a camera for over thirty years. I find the skill sets of writing and photography to be remarkably similar. Mainly, it is the power of observation and the ability to mentally change perspective. The main difference I see is the speed of those observations, comfort with the tools and the anticipation of the decisive moment. Another of my old favorites on display at Magnum, is Elliott Erwitt, I just love the way he sees. Here's a link http://tinyurl.com/33oqko
I worked with a lot of photographers when I was a reporter. What you have that I lack – among other things – is sheer cheek. When real photographers simply march in there and take a shot I'm standing back saying, 'Do you mind…?' And taking nothing. That said I will do a b/w portfolio in Venice and see how it turns out.