Photographer
RIP, Bert Stern. I wrote the noted photographer up years ago here. He sadly passed away recently. Here are just a few of the iconic images he leaves behind.
Be sure to check out the lovely Jazz on a Summer’s Day too.
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RIP, Bert Stern. I wrote the noted photographer up years ago here. He sadly passed away recently. Here are just a few of the iconic images he leaves behind.
Be sure to check out the lovely Jazz on a Summer’s Day too.
Opera gloves, couture gowns, fancy summer beaches – Rene Gruau made glamour more glamorous with his simple, elegant, witty and industry changing illustrations.
Beyond being the pinnacle of couture illustration, Gruau is well known for his sumptuous Dolce Vita poster.
His designs, while accurately portraying the high styles of their time feel modern and getting lost in them is exhilarating and inspiring.
Jack Vance is simply my favorite science fiction author. His stories are clever, rich, unforgettable and funny. I became an immediate and immense fan after casually picking up Tales of the Dying Earth and have been delighted every time I’ve opened one of his books since.
If anyone’s ever asked for book recommendations, I’ve undoubtedly pushed Demon Princes Volume 1 and 2 on them, I’ve even made life long sci-fi haters fall in love with books like Showboat World.
I am sad! I will always regret I never sent a note to thank him for creating such fantastic worlds (he’s one of the only people I’ve felt compelled to write in such a way).
As a man, he was modest and gave much credit to his wife for helping edit his stories and had no pretenses of being a “great” writer (even though he was great).. But he enjoyed it and continued to write even after becoming legally blind with the aid of his wife and computers.
As I always say, if you haven’t read his work, do, it’s made my imagination sing and my life a richer place.
While I’ve written up Ray Harryhausen in the past, with his recent passing, the special effects pioneer and genius is worth revisiting.
He leaves behind a legacy of imaginative and highly influential work (just take a look at any of his greats – I recommend Jason and the Argonauts).
I vividly remember watching his magic with my dad. He will be missed but his influence lives on in pretty much any film with special effects.
Folk icon Richie Havens is remembered not only for his long career in folk music and particularly his break out performance at Woodstock but for being a genuinely kindhearted man. He devoted his time to educating children about the environment and never let fame get in the way of his life and his music.
It’s difficult to choose a favorite song from such an impressive list but I’d recommend a listen to his fantastic version of Here Comes the Sun, one of his biggest hits, and his touching cover of Wonder Child, a lesser known song originally performed by Helen Reddy on Sesame Street (it might bring you close to tears if you have little kids though!)
The portraits by Jeanloup Sieff are iconic – in stunning black and white they are both intimate and sublime.
His editorial work is evocative and sensual. Yet, his name is not as well known as it deserves to be even as he images are instantly recognizable.
A recent publication (Sieff Fashion) and Colette gallery tie in will hopefully change that.
Sieff passed away in 2000, but his legacy is inspiring, timeless and beautiful.
Shocking and sad news about Tony Scott. His films entertained millions. Personally, True Romance and The Hunger are huge favorites. Huge. What a loss.
If you’ve listened to This American Life, you’re likely familiar with David Rakoff. Gentle but biting, funny yet poignant, his poems, essays, and stories we’re some of the program’s most memorable.
He passed away earlier this week after a tough battle with cancer which he spoke of frankly. It’s such a terrible loss.
I’ve been relistening to his TAL contributions all week and highly recommend them to those unfamiliar with his work.
No film student can truly claim a love for the medium if they haven’t at one point been in awe of and inspired by Chris Marker.
Of course, one wishes more film makers took away the proof that less can be more.
Marker made his two most influential films, La Jetee and San Soleil with limited budgets and technology, creating something unique and exciting through inventiveness and vision.
But vision can’t be taught and Marker was a rare gift to film.