Passing of Pompeo Posar :(

[Robert Brummitt]

Hello again.
I was sadden to see that Photographer Pomeo Posar had passed away. He was one of the great photographers that made "Playboy" magazine something to look forward to.
Anyways, The December issue of PB has a selection of his images. What I find very important to point out is that his images are sharp compared to the other digital images of this issue.
RB

 

[Eric Rose]

He used an 8x10 Dorf. I remember reading a feature done on him in the old American Photographer magazine. Good layout and great shots of him working.

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Yes, the piece in PB shows the Deardorf. Last year, I was given the Playboy 50 years of Photography book. I decided to call Playboy's Los Angeles and Chicago studios to have the book sign by the photographers. I got Arny Freytag to sign it. I found that Mario Casili was gone and Pompeo was very ill. I'm still looking for David Chan, who understand from my contacts is living an Vancouver B.C.

 

[georgeg]

We lost a truly great photographer when Pompeo passed. At Playboy he was referred to as simply "the Master". I had the pleasure of working with Pompeo the last 15 years. My first position at PB was Pompeo's assistant. I worked with him on the last gatefolds he shot. He shot a old deardorff called fred. He got his start at playboy shooting b&w images of Hef during the TV show Playboys Penthouse he would process and print all the stuff himself and give copys to Hef. Hef then hired him as playboys staff photog in 1962 or 1963.I learned a great deal from him and always felt honored to be in his company whether it was in the studio or his dinner table.
georgeg
Pb staff Photog

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Thank you for sharing that. Pompeo, Mario and Arny are all important in my book. I like the story about "Fred" the camera. It's stories like these that I personaly find interesting. Maybe it was you who I had spoke with a year ago?
R8x10

 

[Johnny V]

George,

Did you assist with Helen Antonaccio's centerfold back in 1969? She's a friend of mine.

http://www.helenaantonaccio.com/photoshow.html

There is a shot of Pompeo and Helen at the bottom of the page.

Best,

John V.

 

[georgeg]

Johnny
Sorry I was only 7 years old then. I started working with Pompeo in 1988 and worked on all the last gatefolds he shot.

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Did he use the 8x10 for most of the work or just the gatefold? What other camera did he use? What kind of camera are you using today?
Robert8x10

 

[georgeg]

Until recently all gatefolds were shot with an 8x10 camera. Pompeo also used blads and nikons. I use horseman LF cameras, nikon f5 which I hate blads and on occasion mamiya 6x7 or fuji 6x8. When we shoot digital we prefer to use imacon 22 megapixal backs on either blads or horseman LF cameras.

 

[Robert Brummitt]

When I was in school. My instructor was a former Sunset magazine photographer. Her favorite story about Blads was that Sunset had 3 blads in its studio. Two were in the shop for repair and the third was breaking down. That's why I use a Mamiya 6x7. Its a tank but it gets the job done.
Have you heard of David Marcy?

 

[georgeg]

Yes- David Mecey

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Did Pompeo do any other work then figure? I was think it would be neat to see samples.

 

[georgeg]

99.9 % figure.

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Wow, thats specialized! I was hoping to see something else.
Thanks for sharing.