Help please? - interesting Biographies of Photographers

[Andrew Plume]

yes, any help would be more than gratefully appreciated, please?

I have plenty of decent quality photographic books from the likes of Brett, Michael Smith, Pirkle Jones, Paul Strand, Morley Baer and Saint Ansel etc

what I'm really interested in is more of the 'nitty gritty biography stuff' - the kind of writing about photographers on what 'made them tick etc etc', their lives, passions, interests etc - Lee Miller's biography is an example, where there was a whole range of stuff from relationships, travel, bohemian living, food, alcohol etc etc and the odd spot of photography per se, so that sort of stuff

fwiw, I have 'essays on Paul Strand's life' - that's not what I'm after and I've read Edward's 'day books' and Saint A's stuff too

it's those with 'a bohemian slant' that I'm particularly after

thanks for looking (and possibly also assisting)

andrew

[Bill_1856]

I haven't seen much of what your asking for.
Brassi's letters to his parents is interesting.
The biography of Tina Modoti gives some different and interesting insights into Weston. (For example, I did not realize from the Daybooks that she had "cut him off.")

[Andrew Plume]

Hi Wilhelm/Bill

that's great, many thanks - it's a very decent start

regards

andrew

[Brian Ellis]

I don't know what you mean by the "nitty-gritty" or a "bohemian slant." But Diane Arbus was bisexual and you can find some information about that aspect of her life in "Diane Arbus - A Biography" by Patricia Bosworth. Ditto for Ruth Bernhhard and her auto-biography "Between Life And Art." There were various rumors about Ansel Adams' possible affairs or hoped-for affairs and there's a little of that in Mary Street Alinder's biography of him. And of course there's always Robert Mapplethorpe and his biography titled "Mapplethorpe" by Patricia Morrisroe. These are all pretty serious and good books (though there was a lot of controversy about some of the stuff in Alinder's) and the "nitty gritty" or "bohemian" aspects are only a minor part of them so if it's an expose' you're after they probably don't qualify.

I own quite a few other biographies and auto-biographies of photographers but since most serious biographies contain "nitty gritty" information - that's kind of the idea of a biography - I don't know how to distinguish those that contain "nitty gritty" (or "bohemian") information from any others.

[Mark Sampson]

There are several good biographies of Walker Evans; a full one by Belinda Rathbone(?)
as well as "The Last Years of Walker Evans" by Jerry Thompson, and a recent memoir by his second wife. These all sound like what you're looking for.

[Andrew Plume]

I don't know what you mean by the "nitty-gritty" or a "bohemian slant." But Diane Arbus was bisexual and you can find some information about that aspect of her life in "Diane Arbus - A Biography" by Patricia Bosworth. Ditto for Ruth Bernhhard and her auto-biography "Between Life And Art." There were various rumors about Ansel Adams' possible affairs or hoped-for affairs and there's a little of that in Mary Street Alinder's biography of him. And of course there's always Robert Mapplethorpe and his biography titled "Mapplethorpe" by Patricia Morrisroe. These are all pretty serious and good books (though there was a lot of controversy about some of the stuff in Alinder's) and the "nitty gritty" or "bohemian" aspects are only a minor part of them so if it's an expose' you're after they probably don't qualify.

I own quite a few other biographies and auto-biographies of photographers but since most serious biographies contain "nitty gritty" information - that's kind of the idea of a biography - I don't know how to distinguish those that contain "nitty gritty" (or "bohemian") information from any others.


Hi Brian

I'm very grateful for this and for the content, thanks indeed

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

There are several good biographies of Walker Evans; a full one by Belinda Rathbone(?)
as well as "The Last Years of Walker Evans" by Jerry Thompson, and a recent memoir by his second wife. These all sound like what you're looking for.


Hi Mark

thanks for this and for the time taken

regards

andrew

[cowanw]

O'Keeffe and Stieglitz: An American Romance is an interesting view of the machinations of art and manipulation by these two.
Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh is the best on him I have seen.

[Andrew Plume]

O'Keeffe and Stieglitz: An American Romance is an interesting view of the machinations of art and manipulation by these two.
Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh is the best on him I have seen.

Hi Bill

thank you too for your input

regards

andrew

[John Koehrer]

ManRay, American Artist
Margaret Bourke-White

ManRay would be more "Bohemian" and likely more candid.

[cowanw]

Speaking of Man Ray, how about Lee Miller. I don't remamber if it was Lee Miller's War or Lee Miller;a life, but there was a bohemian!
Having a bath in Hitler's tub!

[tgtaylor]

Consider this volumn on Walker Evans:

http://www.amazon.com/Walker-Evans-Jeff-L-Rosenheim/dp/0691050783/ref=sr_1_33?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311114582&sr=1-33

It was written to accompany the exhibition of his work in NY, SF and Houston in 2000 - 2001. I bought the paperback edition in SF and it's excellent.

Too bad that writers like Jack Kerovac and William Burroughs didn't pack a camera. What a combination that would make! Kerovac, however, wrote the introduction to Robert Frank's The Americans. I ordered this version yesterday from Amazon and hope that introduction is retained:

http://www.amazon.com/LOOKING-ROBERT-FRANKS-AMERICANS-EXPANDED/dp/3865218067/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311115267&sr=1-2

Although not a "bohemian," Galen Rowells Mountain Light is a good read if you like a wilderness slant.

Thomas

[ROL]

I have plenty of decent quality photographic books from the likes of Brett, Michael Smith, Pirkle Jones, Paul Strand, Morley Baer and Saint Ansel etc

it's those with 'a bohemian slant' that I'm particularly after



I'll never understand why people feel compelled to use the pejorative "Saint Ansel". If you'd ever read his autobiography, or understood anything about the man, I don't see how you could contribute to the put downs, unless you felt yourself to be superior.

...and I am half Bohemian (by birth), but always slanted.




Although not a "bohemian," Galen Rowells Mountain Light is a good read if you like a wilderness slant.

Thomas

FYI – Galen was quite "bohemian" and slanted (he had to be to begin his climbing career with the redoubtable Warren Harding – though his writings were less so), as well as also being half Bohemian by birth.

[Tony Karnezis]

It is not biographical, but Arnold Crane's "On the Other Side of the Camera" contains his photographs and short anecdotal accounts of many photographers he knew.

http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=KN067&i=3895080934&i2=&CFID=20034554&CFTOKEN=50930997

The photographs are currently on exhibit in Berlin.
http://www.camerawork.de/

[Stephen Lumry]

Even though he is not particularly well liked by photographers; I will offer up Helmut Newton and his autobiography. Whatever you might think about his images, he did lead a very interesting life and if you like borderline eroticism, you probably like his images.

[Andrew Plume]

ManRay, American Artist
Margaret Bourke-White

ManRay would be more "Bohemian" and likely more candid.


Hi John

thanks for this - another for me to check out

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Speaking of Man Ray, how about Lee Miller. I don't remamber if it was Lee Miller's War or Lee Miller;a life, but there was a bohemian!
Having a bath in Hitler's tub!


Hi Bill

thanks for another post, yes I have that book, a great shot of the bathtub too..............

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Consider this volumn on Walker Evans:

http://www.amazon.com/Walker-Evans-Jeff-L-Rosenheim/dp/0691050783/ref=sr_1_33?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311114582&sr=1-33

It was written to accompany the exhibition of his work in NY, SF and Houston in 2000 - 2001. I bought the paperback edition in SF and it's excellent.

Too bad that writers like Jack Kerovac and William Burroughs didn't pack a camera. What a combination that would make! Kerovac, however, wrote the introduction to Robert Frank's The Americans. I ordered this version yesterday from Amazon and hope that introduction is retained:

http://www.amazon.com/LOOKING-ROBERT-FRANKS-AMERICANS-EXPANDED/dp/3865218067/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311115267&sr=1-2

Although not a "bohemian," Galen Rowells Mountain Light is a good read if you like a wilderness slant.

Thomas


Hi Thomas

Thanks for this and for the links too, yes, if only Burroughs and Kerovac both packed a camera, oh well.......................................

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

I'll never understand why people feel compelled to use the pejorative "Saint Ansel". If you'd ever read his autobiography, or understood anything about the man, I don't see how you could contribute to the put downs, unless you felt yourself to be superior.

...and I am half Bohemian (by birth), but always slanted.




FYI – Galen was quite "bohemian" and slanted (he had to be to begin his climbing career with the redoubtable Warren Harding – though his writings were less so), as well as also being half Bohemian by birth.


Thanks for this - no offence was intended re Ansel and no, I do not consider myself to "be superior", the total opposite, so why did I say.................

anyhow your input is much appreciated

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

It is not biographical, but Arnold Crane's "On the Other Side of the Camera" contains his photographs and short anecdotal accounts of many photographers he knew.

http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=KN067&i=3895080934&i2=&CFID=20034554&CFTOKEN=50930997

The photographs are currently on exhibit in Berlin.
http://www.camerawork.de/


Tony - thanks for this, grateful

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Even though he is not particularly well liked by photographers; I will offer up Helmut Newton and his autobiography. Whatever you might think about his images, he did lead a very interesting life and if you like borderline eroticism, you probably like his images.


Thanks Stephen - I'll check it out -regards, andrew

[mdm]

An interesting fiction about a photographer is called Picture Palace by Paul Theroux, I read it many years ago and have a suspicion that it is a biography in disguise of a famous and now deceased portraitist and fashion photographer.

[patrickjames]

You might want to take a look at the Robert Capa biographies. He doinked his way around the world, even with really famous women.

[Andrew Plume]

An interesting fiction about a photographer is called Picture Palace by Paul Theroux, I read it many years ago and have a suspicion that it is a biography in disguise of a famous and now deceased portraitist and fashion photographer.


Hi David

Thanks for the tip, I'll have a peek at this one

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

You might want to take a look at the Robert Capa biographies. He doinked his way around the world, even with really famous women.


Hi Patrick - mmmm, this sounds interesting stuff

regards

andrew

[cowanw]

Eye to I, Thames and Hudson, 1999
This autobiography of Erwin Blumenfeld is highly amusing.

[cyrus]

I'll give you my bio, if you want. :cool:
There's a lot of sex and scandal and stuff...

[Bill_1856]

...have a suspicion that it is a biography in disguise of a famous and now deceased portraitist and fashion photographer.

Who do you have in mind?;)

[tgtaylor]

Although confined to the photographers that matured in the 1930's, this is an excellent insight into their photographic life and drives during that seminal period in American history:

http://www.amazon.com/Staggering-Revolution-Cultural-Thirties-Photography/dp/0252073223/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Thomas

[Andrew Plume]

Eye to I, Thames and Hudson, 1999
This autobiography of Erwin Blumenfeld is highly amusing.


Hey Bill

thanks also for this

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

I'll give you my bio, if you want. :cool:
There's a lot of sex and scandal and stuff...


no problem Cyrus, just send me a pm

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Although confined to the photographers that matured in the 1930's, this is an excellent insight into their photographic life and drives during that seminal period in American history:

http://www.amazon.com/Staggering-Revolution-Cultural-Thirties-Photography/dp/0252073223/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Thomas


Hi Thomas - indeded many thx - regards, andrew

[Robert Hughes]

You might want to take a look at the Robert Capa biographies. He doinked his way around the world, even with really famous women.
Must be why the history books consider Capa a seminal influence in photography...

[John Koehrer]

Ba Dum Bum!

[Tom J McDonald]

There is a book on Australian Frank hurley. I haven't read it but your thread has inspired to borrow it from the library.
http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670073511/frank-hurley-photographer-s-life

Cheers.

[Andrew Plume]

Ba Dum Bum!


Hi John

thx for 'the bump'

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

There is a book on Australian Frank hurley. I haven't read it but your thread has inspired to borrow it from the library.
http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670073511/frank-hurley-photographer-s-life

Cheers.


Tom - thx indeed, regards, andrew

[jonreid]

I didn't like Diane Arbus - A Biography" by Patricia Bosworth. It was done without any co-operation from the family and I think it showed. James Mellow's unfinished Walker Evans was great. Shame he died before completing it but the time around Walker's ascendance is thorough and interesting. Tried but didn't complete a Steichen bio. Maybe he just didn't have as much personality as Evans. I've read Modotti, Weston's daybooks and Mapplethorpe's mentioned here. All good.

J

[Andrew Plume]

I didn't like Diane Arbus - A Biography" by Patricia Bosworth. It was done without any co-operation from the family and I think it showed. James Mellow's unfinished Walker Evans was great. Shame he died before completing it but the time around Walker's ascendance is thorough and interesting. Tried but didn't complete a Steichen bio. Maybe he just didn't have as much personality as Evans. I've read Modotti, Weston's daybooks and Mapplethorpe's mentioned here. All good.

J


Hi Jon

that's really helpful stuff, thank-you

regards

andrew

[Mark Sawyer]

Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but have you read Edward Weston's Daybooks? Straight from the horse's mouth, as it were...

And Charis Wilson wrote of her years with Weston in Through Another Lens.

[Bill_1856]

I didn't like Diane Arbus - A Biography" by Patricia Bosworth. It was done without any co-operation from the family and I think it showed. James Mellow's unfinished Walker Evans was great. Shame he died before completing it but the time around Walker's ascendance is thorough and interesting. Tried but didn't complete a Steichen bio. Maybe he just didn't have as much personality as Evans. I've read Modotti, Weston's daybooks and Mapplethorpe's mentioned here. All good.

J

I concur.
Also, the Charis Weston book gives a great insight into Edward Weston after he started going down hill (IMO).

[Andrew Plume]

Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but have you read Edward Weston's Daybooks? Straight from the horse's mouth, as it were...

And Charis Wilson wrote of her years with Weston in Through Another Lens.



Hi Mark

yes I have Edward's 'Daybooks' but not Charis', so I'll look into that one too - thanks for taking the time to post

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

I concur.
Also, the Charis Weston book gives a great insight into Edward Weston after he started going down hill (IMO).


Hey Bill - thx for posting again

regards

andrew

[mdm]

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138467808/stieglitz-and-okeeffe-their-love-and-life-in-letters?ft=1&f=1143

[Andrew Plume]

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138467808/stieglitz-and-okeeffe-their-love-and-life-in-letters?ft=1&f=1143


hey David - thx for this, regards andrew

[Andrew Plume]

any other ideas, out there, please?

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Merg has posted today news of the long awaited (or at least be me) biography of Brett Weston

andrew