Irving Penn Has Died

[Shawn Rahman]

I have never been a big fan of fashion photography, but found much of Irving Penn's work interesting, and of course, his influence cannot be denied.

Here is the link to the NYT article announcing his death:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/arts/design/08penn.html?hp

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I'm sorry to hear of Irving Penn passing. Like you Shawn, I'm not a big fan of fashion photography, but he had a lot influence none the less.

Jeff

 

[dpurdy]

Terrible news. Irving Penn has been very inspirational and influential to me. He is my main man. The top of the heap in every way. I hope there is a special place for spirits like his.
Dennis

 

[ann]

he did a lot more than fashion , altho, most people know his name in connection with fashion

also, how can the date on that article be 2009/10/08 when this is the 7th>

 

[Curt]

He was a master photographer who made exquisite photographs over a long career, another passing of an original.

Curt

 

[dpurdy]

he did a lot more than fashion , altho, most people know his name in connection with fashion

Indeed, to call him a fashion photographer is severely limiting.
Portraits, still life, street photography, nudes and he probably is the most accomplished platinum printer ever.

 

[SuzanneR]

He was a great still life photographer, and he made some of the great portraits. Sad news, one of the best.

 

[gandolfi]

my favourite photographer (of the living ones).

92?

too early!!

 

[lns]

A great, great photographer. And a great printer as well.

The article is dated tomorrow because it will be published tomorrow in the print edition of the New York Times.

-Laura

 

[bill schwab]

Just heard the news. Oh boy. It was always nice knowing he was still around. Farewell to one of the greats.

 

[papagene]

Sad news indeed. He was a very inspirational figure to me also.

gene

 

[removed account4]

sad news ..
he was one of the great ones!

 

[Michael W]

A great photographer. I loved his project of picking up rubbish from the street & photographing it in his studio as still life. One B&W shot of crushed cigarette butts made me see cigarette butts in a new way. I saw them for their form, rather than as street rubbish. He was also one of the great portraitists. He had a career as a commercial photographer but was also respected as an artist for his personal projects. Making a series of portraits where he got the people to stand in a narrow angle corner is a good example of that.

 

[PVia]

My absolute favorite photographer...very sad news.

I was at the Getty one week ago today looking at 252 silver and pt/pd prints of his entire Small Trades series...don't miss this amazing exhibition if you're in Los Angeles the next few months.

 

[2F/2F]

Sad to hear. Behind Clifford Coffin, he was my favorite when it comes to fashion photos. I was lucky enough to have been exposed to him by my very first photo teacher, and I learned a lot from his pictures.

 

[sterioma]

I don't know much of his work, but the few things that I have seen are truly outstanding.

 

[benjiboy]

I've been an admirer of his work for all my adult life, his death is indeed sad.

 

[abeku]

He was one of the greatest. His book "Passage" is highly recommended!

 

[Robert Brummitt]

I had heard of Irving's passing while with my sister in the Bay Area. They showed a short bio and home of his images on "Sunday Morning with CBS". I was sadden by the news and when I get back in town I'll have to pull out my copy of his book I have.
I didn't see him as a fashion photographer but as a photographer who thought outside the box and sometimes photographed his subjects tightly inside a corner of said box.
I will miss his work