This is the 34st installment of the online series by Peter Fetterman Gallery called the Power of Photography highlighting hope, peace and love in the world. We invite you to enjoy and reflect on these works during this time.
Georges Dambier 1925-2011
Marie-Hélène et Le Poisson Rouge, 1957
Signed and numbered in ink on verso
Gelatin Silver Print
20 x 24 inches
Edition 2 of 5
(GD14-1)
“Darling, you are in love with my camera!”
~ Georges Dambier (1925-2011)
Georges’s talent was recognized early on by the talented Helene Lazareff, the creative director of French Elle. She encouraged his ideas to take these glorious models out into the streets of Paris away from the normal stilted shots which emanated from the rigid studio settings. With his charm and great sense of humor he elicited wonderful “performances” from them as if he were directing a movie. He had a great sense of style and design and really was the key photographer to emerge from that glorious era of French Elle. He made fashion fun and every great model at the time wanted to work with him. After he retired from photography he left Paris to open a beautiful small hotel in the French countryside where he was equally successful, a nice coda to a busy and hectic career.
Ruth Bernhard 1905-2006
Angles, 1969
signed on recto and verso in pencil
Silver gelatin print
11 x 14 inches
(1703)
“My images reach dimensions words cannot touch. My quest, through the magic of light and shadow is to isolate, to simplify and to give emphasis to form with the greatest clarity. To indicate ideal proportion, to reveal sculptural mass and the dominating spirit is my goal”
~ Ruth Bernhard (1905-2006)
This is one of Ruth’s most tender nudes. It seems so simple but Ruth I know spent so much time thinking about how to create this magic. In the history of photography Edward Weston was renowned for his nudes. A chance meeting with Edward Weston on the beach in Santa Monica in 1935 changed Ruth’s life. He became her first mentor and someone who inspired her to strive to become the artist she eventually became. As she eloquently puts it.
“I was unprepared. For the experience of seeing his pictures for the first time. There before me was indisputable evidence of what I had thought possible – an intensely vital artist whose medium was photography “
He would have been so proud of her. She lived her whole life in simplicity and dedication to her craft forgoing any material indulgences just like he did.
Wynn Bullock 1902-1975
Night Scene, 1959 (Printed before 1965)
signed on in pencil on recto, stamped, titled and dated on verso
Silver gelatin print
Image – 7.5″x9.5, Mount – 13″x15″, Matted – 16″x20″
(WBK19-9)
“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble”
~William Shakespeare – “Macbeth”
Throughout the history of photography, artists have used shadows, surreal compositions, and the mystery of the unknown to evoke the supernatural. From classic portraits with ghostly overlays to dramatic, shadow-filled scenes, photography has always had a unique power to bring our fears and fascinations to life. Enjoy these glimpses into the darker side of the medium
Paul Cupido
Reprise, 2023
Signed, titled, dated in ink on photographer’s label.
Archival pigments on handmade Kozo paper
Image: 11 3/4″ x 8 3/4″, Frame: 15 1/8″ x 12 1/4″
Edition 3 of 10
(PCU36-01)
“It’s about the little note, the unpretentiousness that lies in the snapshot. Now that everything seems to be generable, the snapshot remains invaluable.”
~ Paul Cupido
Paul Cupido’s Reprise captures a mesmerizing moment, where the deep red hues of a rising or setting sun blend into the sky, evoking a sense of renewal and reflection. The rich tones create a powerful contrast, symbolizing both the end and beginning of a day, reminding us of nature’s perpetual cycle. This image speaks to Paul’s exploration of ephemerality and the beauty of fleeting moments.
Cig Harvey
Sky Lantern, 2017
Signed in ink on verso; Signed, titled and dated in ink with photographer’s label
Archival pigment print
Image 14″ x 14″, Paper 21″ x 17″, Matted 30″ x 24″
Edition of 10
(CG22-46)
“I really think of photography as this sort of Ouija board, like it’s telling you something and you need to listen. And you need to be a good date when you’re listening and not talk too much and really absorb what you’re making. Because I think a lot us photographers make a lot but we don’t spend much time analyzing why we were drawn to that area or this person or why we got up at dawn and photographed this river. So I really love that sort of duality of the conscious and unconscious mind coming together”
~ Cig Harvey
Cig has emerged now as one of the great photographers of her generation. In a world that is full of so many people calling themselves “photographers” she stands out with an original voice both in her image making and in her writings.
Earlie Hudnall
Girl with Flag, 1991
Signed, titled, dated in pencil on verso
Gelatin Silver Print
Image – 13.75″x18.5″, Paper – 16″x20″, Matted – 20″x24″
(EH21-1)
“The camera is only a tool. It is up to the viewer to come to their own conclusion once they look at the picture based upon their experience.”
~ Earlie Hudnall
Earlie Hudnall’s insight—that a camera is merely a tool and that each viewer brings their own interpretation—echoes powerfully in the context of today’s political world. Just as an image invites varied perspectives, so too does a political landscape invite diverse interpretations based on individual experiences and values. As voters, we each bring our unique backgrounds to the “picture” of our nation, shaping how we perceive policies, candidates, and potential futures. This quote reminds us to approach each election thoughtfully, to listen to different perspectives, and to recognize that our interpretations of the issues are influenced by our own lived experiences. In the end, it is collective diversity that enriches our democracy. May you all use your voice to champion equality, protect freedoms, and build a more compassionate and inclusive future for everyone.
Neil Leifer 1942
Los Angeles Dodgers Sandy Koufax (32) victorious after winning Game 4 and championship series vs New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium, October 6, 1963, printed later
Signed and numbered in ink on recto
Gelatin Silver Print
Paper 16 x 20 inches; Image 13 x 19 1/2 inches
Edition 65 of 150
(NL944623)
“The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don’t have to ask anyone or play politics. You don’t have to wait for the reviews.”
~ Sandy Koufax
The World Series brings a fresh wave of excitement to baseball fans. Looking back, few games stand out like the iconic Dodgers vs. Yankees matchups of the past, especially with Sandy Koufax on the mound. In the 1963 World Series, Koufax dominated, pitching two complete-game victories against the Yankees, including a staggering 15-strikeout performance in Game 1. His efforts led the Dodgers to a decisive sweep over the Yankees, etching Koufax’s name into baseball history as one of the greatest postseason pitchers. Our friend and photographer Neil Leifer in turn etched Sandy Koufax into photo history with this amazing image of the Dodgers win of Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
Sarah Moon 1941
Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, 2022
Signed, titled and numbered in pencil on verso
Platinum print
Image 19-1/2″ x 15-1/2″, Paper 24″ x 20″, Mat 30″x 24″
Edition 3 of 15
(SM23-06)
“Through my work as a model I naturally became interested in photography.. fashion photography, and at the beginning it was from the magazines of the time. That’s how I discovered the photos of Avedon, Irving Penn, Newton or Guy Bordin. And then it was through opportunity, the long waits in the studios during the fashion collections, and the chance of having a Nikon on loan, that I was able to start shooting back stage, and outside. I would take shots of my model colleagues. Yes, after 50 years of activity I define myself as a photographer”
~ Sarah Moon
Sarah is one of the most revered photographers in the world. She started out humbly as a model, learnt her craft with an incredible dedication and drive and developed her own unique style that many try to emulate but never come close to achieving. She is in a class of her own. She gifts us with not only the most beautiful images but with dreams.
Anastasia Samoylova b. 1984
Garden, Micanopy, 2020
Signed in ink on artist label
Archival Pigment Print
16″ x 20″
Edition 2 of 5 plus 2 AP
(ASa28-01)
“Landscape is nearly always present in one way or another in my work. Perhaps the key here is the triple meaning of “landscape”, a type of picture, a type of view and a type of place. The three cannot really be separated. The experience of a place is shaped in advance by our experience of images of it and of related places. It is easy to realize this but coming to terms with the profound implication of it can take a long time. It is a moving dynamic.”
~ Anastasia Samoylova
Ana’s work shines alongside that of the legendary Walker Evans, offering a fresh and powerful perspective on the evolving landscapes of Florida.
John Simmons b. 1950
Nina Simone, Nashville, TN, 1971
Signed, titled and dated in pencil on verso
Gelatin silver print
Image: 8 3/4″x12 7/8″, Paper 11″x14″, Matted 16″x20″
(JS22-10)
“While you’re on stage, the audience is standing and applauding and yelling. But when you get home, you take off all your clothes and get into bed alone and that can really do something to your head and your heart.
~ Nina Simone
“Time can pass and everything can change in the world except the emotion you get from a photograph”
~ John Simmons
Nina Simone’s fight for equality and fairness in the African-American struggle for equality in the early 1960’s knew no bounds. Her triumphant voice sang what it meant to be young, gifted and black in a sometimes unjust and troubled world.
Louis Stettner 1922-2016
Coming to America, 1951/Printed Later
Signed, dated and titled in pencil on verso
Gelatin Silver Print
16 x 20 inches
(LS14-15)
“My Credo, my way of life, my very being is based on images capable of engraving themselves indelibly in our inner soul’s eye. Also, through my personal vision, to reveal what cannot be readily seen, to capture what is most meaningful, to enrich our appreciation of life. It is to explore and celebrate the human condition and the world around us, nature and man together, to find significance in suffering and all that is profound, beautiful and nourishes the soul. Above all, I believe in creative work through struggle to increase human wisdom and happiness”
~ Louis Stettner (1922 – 2016)
I’m an immigrant to America. I was a “dreamer” and still am. In the upcoming election, immigration remains a hot-button issue. This image, one of Louis’s truly great works, pierces the soul and breaks your heart. I could have been that little kid. Maybe you could have been that little kid. Maybe this could have been your family. Maybe this is your family.
Brett Weston 1911-1993
Gondolas, Venice, 1971
Signed and dated in pencil on recto
Gelatin Silver Print
Image – 15.5″x17″, Mount – 22″x26″, Matted – 24″x30″
(9895)
“I’ll do the printing myself until I die. Printing is a personal thing. I couldn’t print your work. You couldn’t print mine. It wouldn’t be the same. So when I die, I’ll have all of my negatives destroyed”
~ Brett Weston (1911-1993)
I don’t know of any other photographer in the history of photography that burnt the majority of his or her negatives as an act of defiance in the face of conventional behavior. But this is exactly what Brett did on his 80th birthday party. He possessed such technical prowess that we are so fortunate that this brilliant print from Venice survived whatever we think of his eccentricity. It is a “tour de force” from a master.
Peter Fetterman Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave, #A1
Santa Monica, CA 90404
http://www.peterfetterman.com
The Power of Photography is now a book published by ACC ART Books.
Peter Fetterman : The Power of Photography
ACC ART Books
Pages: 256 pages
Size: 7.87 in x 9.06 in
ISBN: 9781788841221
$45.00
https://www.accartbooks.com/us/book/the-power-of-photography/
www.accartbooks.com
