« I began photographing in 1964, after finishing a degree in anthropology and art history at the University of Missouri. My goal from the first was to become a world-class photojournalist. My heroes were Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Frank, Gene Smith, and the Magnum photographers.
My first published work was my photo of Bob Dylan in sunglasses with a cigarette, taken in Stockholm in 1966. The photo was syndicated, and I made money–which gave me faith that I could be a professional photographer.
I moved to New York City in August, 1966, and worked for a year as a studio assistant. In 1967 I left that job and started working as a free-lance photographer. It was easier than I thought to get started. Soon I was working for the New York Times, Harper’s magazine, the Saturday Review, Time, and other magazines.
From 1972-76 I photographed Manhattan’s financial district for my book Wall Street. This extended photographic essay won two fellowships from the NY State Arts Council, and I was awarded the Leica Medal of Excellence for the Wall Street work.
In 1975 I published my first book, Sidetripping, with text by William S. Burroughs. A.D. Coleman, writing in the NY Times, said, “Gatewood’s world is freakish, earthy, blunt, erotic–most of all, terribly and beautifully alive. »
Charles Gatewood
Charles Gatewood: Greatest Hits
Until November 26, 2011
Robert Tat Gallery
49 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Tues – Sat 11–5:30 pm & by appointment
First Thursdays of the month open until 7:30pm
Contact: 415-781-1122
