If Lynes, Mapplethorpe, and Tom of Finland got together in an orgy, I think Berlin would have been the love child. I'm not sure that I've ever heard of Peter Berlin, and if I have, I clearly didn't pay enough attention. As a person I think he typifies the narcissistic gay male, but as a photographer I think he was quite genius. His double exposure self portraits were really quite amazing. In the documentary I just watched, he mentioned intentionally underexposing images so that he could draw over the resulting prints. A sort of photograph/painting hybrid effect. I don't know if that was done before he came along, but I think he was way ahead of his time with that technique.
What I find most interesting though is that he garnered so much attention for himself, and his art, without help from galleries, art dealers, attorneys, etc. He just dressed up and went out. At least that's what it seems like from what little I know.
I'm kind of enamored with him right now.
What I find most interesting though is that he garnered so much attention for himself, and his art, without help from galleries, art dealers, attorneys, etc. He just dressed up and went out. At least that's what it seems like from what little I know.
I'm kind of enamored with him right now.