Al Kaplan
Veteran
Last week I wrote about the influence that Robert Frank had on the direction of photojournalism in the 1950's and beyond with the publication of The Americans. While reading back over the Frank thread I thought of another photographer, Ken Heyman. I spent hours going through my collection of old photography annuals, and I did a web search. My mind wasn't playing tricks on me! I was looking at some of the strongest most powerful images I'd ever seen.
When I first got started in photography in the early 1960's probably my biggest hero and inspiration was Ken Heyman. He did many picture stories for Life Magazine, and the photgraphy magazines did stories about him. I met him once or twice at the University of Miami's annual Wilson Hicks Photojournalism Conference in the late sixties, but I first became aware of him in the early sixties when I saw some of his prints at Galley VII, a photography gallery in Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod.
In addition to framed prints on the wall he displayed what he referred to as "blocks". These were pieces of hardwood perhaps 4x6x2 inches thick, nicely finished in natural wood, and a print was flush mounted on one face of the block. His framed prints were about 8x10 matted in 11x 14 frames and priced at $25 while the blocks were only $10.
What struck me about his photography were the powerful iconic images he produced and the beauty of the prints themselves. While Frank's photographs worked well in the context of the story Heyman's photographs could easily stand alone. Frank's photographs involved you with the subjects, Heyman's used the subjects as an excuse to create strong dynamic compositions to grab your eye. Frank printed in shades of grey, light and airy. Heyman printed with intense blacks, using contrast to define shapes.
By the time he started shooting lenses had improved, films had gotten faster and less grainy, and it was time for a new style, because it was now possible for a new style of photojournalism to evolve. Heyman was a leader in that evolution.
Google his name, check out his photographic style, and maybe gain some inspiration for 2009.
When I first got started in photography in the early 1960's probably my biggest hero and inspiration was Ken Heyman. He did many picture stories for Life Magazine, and the photgraphy magazines did stories about him. I met him once or twice at the University of Miami's annual Wilson Hicks Photojournalism Conference in the late sixties, but I first became aware of him in the early sixties when I saw some of his prints at Galley VII, a photography gallery in Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod.
In addition to framed prints on the wall he displayed what he referred to as "blocks". These were pieces of hardwood perhaps 4x6x2 inches thick, nicely finished in natural wood, and a print was flush mounted on one face of the block. His framed prints were about 8x10 matted in 11x 14 frames and priced at $25 while the blocks were only $10.
What struck me about his photography were the powerful iconic images he produced and the beauty of the prints themselves. While Frank's photographs worked well in the context of the story Heyman's photographs could easily stand alone. Frank's photographs involved you with the subjects, Heyman's used the subjects as an excuse to create strong dynamic compositions to grab your eye. Frank printed in shades of grey, light and airy. Heyman printed with intense blacks, using contrast to define shapes.
By the time he started shooting lenses had improved, films had gotten faster and less grainy, and it was time for a new style, because it was now possible for a new style of photojournalism to evolve. Heyman was a leader in that evolution.
Google his name, check out his photographic style, and maybe gain some inspiration for 2009.
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John Lawrence
Well-known
.ken
I like pictures
thanks for the post. always nice to learn about photographers that i have not yet discovered.
Michael Markey
Veteran
Likewise. Really good , thankyou.