Richard Avedon

BY: FLORAINE MANALILI

BIBLIOGRAPHY● Born (where and when): Richard Avedon was born on

May 15, 1923 in New York City. ● Education: Avedon attended high school at DeWitt

Clinton, where his interest in fashion and photography continued. He develop affinity for poetry and participated on his school prestigious magazine, entitled The Mapie. After his high school, Avedon continued his studies at Columbia University, pursuing a degree in philosophy and poetry. However, during the WWII, he dropped out after 1 year, to serve as a photographer at United States Merchant Marine. In here, he takes identification portraits of sailors. After Avedon service, he attended the New School for Social Research in New York City to continue his studies in photography.

● Some of Avedon work appears and are displayed at the museum and gallery (particularly at the) -Museum of Modern Art -Marlborough Gallery -Metropolitan Museum of Art -and even on some famous magazine; such as Vogue

● Avedon was known for his provocative fashion and surreal black-and-white portraits of people; such as celebrities or local people

● In terms of fashion style, he gives a refreshing and humanistic type to its genre. He often capture a model that seems to be frozen in that time of period and presents the model personalities and flows.___ While on his portrait style he presents it in a disturbing way.

CONTINUE: BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-avedon-richard.htm

CONTINUE: BIBLIOGRAPHY

● Richard Avedon was influenced by his teacher Alexey Brodovitch, who is an acclaimed art director of Harper's Bazaar

FACTS

● Avedon is an American photographer

● He is considered as one of the most talented young fashion photographer

➢ Lighting used: natural (outside) coming from above ➢ The main subject of the photograph is the coat of

Carmen’. ➢ Avedon place his subject exactly at the middle of the

the rule of thirds, and made the coat of this model appears to be the floating

➢ The photographer is trying to shows how the coat by Cardin flows naturally on the side view and that it can be used outside during the rainy season, as the model use umbrella

➢ I’ve selected this photo b/c it shows how Avedon captured the coat of this model. The model seems to be frozen on her movement. This also gives me the feeling stillness or frozeness, as if the subject freeze at the time the photo was taken. Thus, a photo like this is hard to master, it takes a long time to photograph a movement that's seems to be floating in the ground.

Carmen (Homage to Munkacsi) Coat by Cardin, Francois-Premier, in Paris, August, 1957

Gloria Vanderbilt, December 17, 1953

➢ Lighting used: Artificial (inside), from a 45 degree angle.

➢ This is a portrait photo, therefore, the main subject of this photo is the facial feature of Gloria Vandebilt

➢ Avedon uses shadows to add an in depth this photo. And he uses black and white to make it seems dull

➢ The photographer is trying to shows the beauty of a women. Avedon has a great way of capturing strong emotion, which can be seen on this photo

➢ I’ve selected this b/c of the strong personality that can actually be seen in this photo by Gloria

The Comforts Portfolio, #04: A Fable in 24 Episodes, Montauk, New York, August 1995

➢ Lighting used: Artificial (inside), coming from the back view angle

➢ The subject of the photograph is the burning money, with the use of cigarette

➢ The photographer is trying to show, that the women is not easy to get.

➢ Avedon uses props, such as the money, skeleton hand, and the cigarette to add a story behind on this picture.

➢ I’ve selected this photo because there is so much about in just one shot. It depicts that not all women can be get by just a money and that they are worth more

New York Life #13, Harlem, New York, September 6, 1949

➢ Lighting used: Natural (outside) ➢ The main subject of this photo is the this

women with her coffee in hand, while not paying much attention or looking directly away from the camera. This can be seen as the background around her is blurry.

➢ Avedon uses a depth of field to achieve, what he’s trying to present

➢ The Avedon is trying to show the New Nork way of life. He is trying to present the everyday activity of some people, during their spare time

➢ I’ve selected this picture b/c i like how Avedon blur the background to emphasize his subject

Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955

➢ Lighting used: Artificial (inside), coming from the left side, as a shadow can be seen casting behind the model

➢ The main subject of this photograph is the dress of this women. This can be tell through the movement of the model. The model moves flawlessly in the motion of the elephants

➢ Avedon uses the rule of third to place his main subject in the middle of this photo

➢ Avedon is trying to show how this dress can be so flexible and comforting to use

➢ I’ve chosen this photo b/c I like the way Avedon uses the elephants to present the model and her dress, which perfectly fit in the background

Sources

➢ https://www.avedonfoundation.org/the-work/

➢ https://www.biography.com/people/richard-avedon-9193034

➢ http://www.theartstory.org/artist-avedon-richard.htm