Richard Avedon cut his teeth shooting fashion and glamor photography in post-war France, but became far more important to photography as a whole as his life wet on. While he became “fashion photography’s biggest star” by the 1950’s, he quickly became an important figure in portrait photography as well. One person in the video even suggests that having your portrait taken by Avedon is “the final recognition.” However, another states that he has no sense of subtlety, no compassion, and yet somehow touches a nerve with people. According to the video, before Avedon came around, models posed for pictures and became statues. Whereas he would create motion, a narrative, and even direct his subjects in a way that a filmmaker might. Avedon himself says that he photographs what he’s afraid of, be it old age due to his father’s death, women’s fashion due to being intimidated by them or because they look like his younger sister. He says that he takes pictures because the world fascinates him. Its this fascination that allows him to capture photos that give a true sense of the subjects personality or an expression Avedon himself.
Western Director John Ford
Drew Stanford's 