Two great photographers recently passed away within a week of each other. Elliot Erwitt and Larry Fink died on November 29th and November 25th. For the unfamiliar, these were two incredible photographers that also lived life on their own terms. I’m not going to go into the history of their long careers; you can find that all over the web. If you don’t know about these great photographers you need to learn fast!
Last year I bought Erwitt’s spectacular huge book Personal Best. As I’ve mentioned in a previous entry, it contains almost 446 photographs he personally selected as his best and favorite images from a lifetime of creative work. If you are serious about photography it’s a book you simply need to have! Sadly I don’t own any of Fink’s books; getting one had been a neglected item on my to do list. But perhaps of greater importance, I got a chance to meet Larry several times during the last two years. At the at the opening of Monalog’s first exhibit and that of his own show, both at the Stirner Modern Gallery, and at Nazareth Area High School, where he was working with the students and I was doing a class. A truly great guy, and FYI, the kids really loved him!
Here’s the thing … where will the Elliott Erwitts and Larry Finks be going forward when we need them. In today’s upside down world a little Elliot Erwitt would go especially well. We need some humor in our photography … and in life. Erwitt gave us that in spades! Here’s a quote: “I’m not a serious photographer like most of my colleagues. That is to say, I’m serious about not being serious.” I like that!
So two more titans of photography who happened to be regular guys are gone. Sad. We need more top notch photography in today’s photo art world and frankly a lot less ego from those who simply can’t hold a candle to Erwitt and Fink.
I know there must be some good ones out there following or wishing to follow in their footsteps, I just haven’t seen very much of late. Who knows, maybe there are some young photographers about to take up the mantle, or whose work is waiting to be discovered like Vivian Maier … hopefully while their still alive!
In the meantime, I am grateful for Elliot Erwitt and Larry Fink and for all they gave us.
Stay well,
Michael