photographer research project Irving Penn By: Madelyn Hughes

Birth and Death Born June 16th 1917 in Plainfield, New Jersey Died on October 7th 2009 in New York City

Methods and personal techniques Penn used a multitude of cameras, techniques and printing processes. He mastered black and white as well as color photography. Penn frequently using broader lensed cameras like his 35mm lens with a telephoto lens for most of his photos. But Penn is most known for his platinum prints but also used gelatin sliver prints to get different graphic design which blurred fine detail and create flat planes of light and shadow “The Angel” “Berber Horsemen” Platinum print “Zebra” Gelatin sliver print 35mm camera

Subject matter and route to photography Irving Penn was known for his iconic fashion, still life and portrait. Most of his photos were simplistic. He used the clarity of line instead of fancy back drop. He took most of his best photographs of his wife Linda Fonssagrives Irving Penn want to become a painter, but instead at age 26 he took a job designing photographic covers for the vogue. He began photographing his own ideas for covers and soon was established as a fashion photographer.

Best known photos and reaction/impact He was one of the first photographers to take pictures of there subject in just a simple grey or white backdrop, he showed great emphasis on the subjects starting and era for those whose enjoyed his work. He showed that you don’t need to have technical complexities for a photo to be great. Three things that he taught the photography world is 1.) Photography isn’t about expensive lighting and equipment 2.) Don’t just click the shutter; photograph with a purpose even if people dislike your photo 3.) Photograph the unusual and taken for granted http://www.ucreative.com/features/3-things-can-learn-irving-penn/ He taught people a different way in photography. He is known for taking photos of famous people (J.F. Kennedy) and “human Shrek”. He was more known for the way he took photos not what he took photos of although he was one of the best some sites even same people can compare but will never out do Irving Penn. “Dorian Leigh and Maurice Tillet” “John F. Kennedy”

Reference Slide http://www.biography.com/people/cecil-beaton-38501#professional-success http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/exhibitions/IrvingPennArchives/overview http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2015/irving_penn/

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Irving Penn Strip-Project

Reflection While researching Irving Penn I learned a lot about him but also a lot about how if you do something different than others it may turn out to be amazing (I.E his grey and white backdrop)as he was one of the firsts to try this way. I also learned that you shouldn’t just stick to one style of art his photos were done in tons of different styles one barely surpassing the other. I enjoyed his photos because of the value in his work the color deviation was great and I enjoy black and white photos I believe it leaves more imagination for the one examining the photo to put the colors where you’d like. I also enjoy his work because even though he does a lot of fashion photos they all tell a story, in the eyes , mouth, hands just in general all around. In many of his other photos he uses props in very interesting ways. One of my personal favorite photos of his is Bee