Friday, March 10, 2006

Gordon Parks, photojournalist

Gordon Parks, one of the pioneers of what we today call photojournalism died this week. He was 93 years old. Parks is widely known as one of the first major African-American movie directors. But long before Parks got into movies, he was taking pictures for the Farm Security Administration and Life magazine. His photographs and photo essays were not only technically good but also displayed a dignity, social conscience and anger that made him unique. Parks was also a writer, composer and founder of Essence magazine. Few creative people ranged as widely as he did, and few were as good at so many things as Gordon Parks. Read his New York Times obituary. See also Magazines and Photojournalism's Gold Age, a short essay on JPROF.com.



Read more about journalism and issues facing the profession at JPROF.com.

No comments: