Ivring Penn article in NY Times

ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
edited June 17, 2005 in Technique
I've been trying to gear up to write an appreciation of Irving Penn for more than a year, but 1. I haven't found the online images I wanted as illustrations and 2. I haven't managed to get my mind around the common themes and technical aspects of his work. This morning there is an article in the NY Times reviewing a show of his work at the National Gallery. You can probably read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/arts/design/17smit.html?8hpib

The article is interesting, but it isn't the appreciation I still want to write. For one thing, they also suffer from a lack of illustrations. For those who don't know Penn's work, this article won't serve as a good introduction. For another, the article is focused on details of Penn's darkroom work vs his actual photography. This is interesting stuff, but not really what his work is about for me. Lastly, there is no mention of Penn's color work. For me, one of the most interesting things about Penn is that he was one of the pioneers of color and though much of his work is B&W, I especially love "Flowers" a book of color pictures.

So, you digrnners, here is an I.O.U. for a Penn appreciation. I don't know when I'll get around to it, but I will do it. In the mean time, take the time to look at this site: http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/irving_penn.htm I think it's a better intro.
If not now, when?

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