RIP Henry Wessel 1942 to 2018

[filmtwit]

West Coast/Bay Area photographer for decades was emeritus professor of art at San Francisco Art Institute, where he taught from 1973 to 2014.
His work is represented in San Francisco by Rena Bransten Gallery, Steidl boos, and in New York by Pace/MacGill Gallery.

Obit at
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/art-exhibits/sf-bay-area-photographer-henry-wessel-dead-at-76

Interviews at
https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/Henry_Wessel

 

[Michael Markey]

How very sad.
I liked his work.

PS the link to the obit is not available in the UK

 

[DougFord]

Thank you for sharing your photographic view of your world Mr. Wessel.
RIP

 

[Fjäll]

For every non US citizen here's a proxy link to the article:

https://us.hideproxy.me/go.php?u=L+...l5Ob10EHyzx3H57t5VrYFI9wynhiBmR&b=5&f=norefer

Or just go here: https://hide.me/en/proxy and paste the region locked website in the adress field.

 

[gns]

What a loss. We crossed paths several times back in the 70s-80s. Genuinely nice guy with an infectious fascination with photography. If you haven't already, watch the little KQED/Spark profile on him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7SXO91sR8g).

 

[charjohncarter]

No, No, he was great and one of my favorites. The Bay Area will really miss Henry: RIP.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs...ages/hw/large/henry_wessel_9.jpg&action=click

This photo is a style that he developed. He called 'Southern California Light' you give lots of exposure so the shadows are filled almost the same as the sunlight areas. I loved this style living in Calfornia. It took me a couple of tries to get it like him.

 

[jpressman]

So sad to lose him, he is one of my favorites too. His views on being open to whatever is in front of him that catches his eye is very motivating for me and expresses the zen of seeing that I tap into. Great that he lets his contact sheets sit for a year or two before he reviews them so that the excitement of clicking the shutter has evaporated.

 

[aizan]

he shot tri-x pulled to 100, right?

if you take your camera with you everywhere, or go on walks with your camera, henry wessel is a master of that way of shooting.

 

[charjohncarter]

He did Trix pulled to something. Used a Leica M (early) and some say a 28mm but I think he also used a 35mm (my opinion). I have seen him with another camera I think a MF. But he certainly was a 35mm Leica man.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs...6d59a83b46d2dbeb55e744990d99.jpg&action=click

I don't think this is a 28mm.

 

[Bingley]

I saw his work at the New Topographics retrospective at SFMOMA a few years ago. Really liked it. Very sad to hear that he's died.

 

[charjohncarter]

It's funny how your life sometimes is a little like someones. Henry and I were born the same year we both lived in, well lets say, climates with four season in our early life. We both came to Los Angeles about the same time with cameras (me 1963). I left quickly to school and the Army. But returned the Bay Area in 1972 (like him); he became a famous working photographer and I worked and took pictures. So for many years I admired him, envied him and wondered why I couldn't produce like he did.

I hope they put together a grand exhibition honoring him here, and soon.

 

[PRJ]

What a bummer.

Years ago I was looking through the get-it-cheap books at a museum and I came across his book Night Walk. I just went and pulled it from the shelf and it still has the sticker on it. $5! What a jewel and one of my favorites. I don't know if there has ever been a retrospective book of his, but I'd buy it for sure. In fact, I'm going to go check now....

Sad another great photographer has passed.

 

[Michael Markey]

Thanks for those links John.
I`d seen a lot of the shots before and I have his book "Henry Wessal" but I didn`t know ,for example , that he took that it was his shot of Winogrand and his daughter.

 

[Dogman]

So sad. A few years back I really got into his work and bought all his available (and affordable) books. He will be missed.

 

[cz23]

In addition to loving his work, I admired how thoughtful, articulate, and open he was about his process.

One of my favorite videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=475&v=m7SXO91sR8g

John

 

[Out to Lunch]

https://www.google.com/search?q=hen...787dAhXEso8KHRxbAZYQ_AUIDigB&biw=1120&bih=551

 

[xayraa33]

In addition to loving his work, I admired how thoughtful, articulate, and open he was about his process.

One of my favorite videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=475&v=m7SXO91sR8g

John

Wow, Great video !

 

[telenous]

Sad, very sad to read this. RIP Mr. Wessell, you were one of a kind.

 

[FPjohn]

NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/obituaries/henry-wessel-photographer-dead.html?

yours
FPJ