Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Anthology celebrating one of Magnum's premier photographers. 'My emphasis has ... been on affirmative reactions to human behavior and a strong attraction to the beauty in nature.' The first anthology dedicated to one of the greatest American photographers of the twentieth century, Dennis Stock. A Magnum photographer, Stock was a photojournalist particularly renowned for his photographs of James Dean and of jazz musicians in the 1950s. Complete access to Stock's archive was granted for this book and several of these images are never-before-seen. This coffee table tome is tribute to his immense talent.
Synopsis
Dennis Stock had an extraordinary ability to capture the essence of the American experience. This magnificent volume is the first anthology dedicated to him during his celebrated period of the 1950s to 1970s. Complete access to Stock's archive has been granted and several of the images are never-before-seen. Included are his iconic photo-essay on James Dean; celebrity portraits including Audrey Hepburn resting her head on a car window on the cusp of fame; Miles Davis playing jazz; JFK on the campaign trail; corporate America; Stock's California road trip and the alternative lifestyle of the burgeoning hippie movement. Stock's photographs are introduced by an essay by world-leading photography authority Dr. Michael Pritchard and a foreword from Stock's friend and colleague at Magnum, Michael Shulman. For a man who once said that 'every picture should be a masterpiece', this stunning coffee table tome is witness to Stock's immense talent, and his ability to manage just that.
Synopsis
The first anthology dedicated to one of the greatest American photographers of the 20th century, Dennis Stock, during his most celebrated period of the 1950s-1970s. Undisputedly one of America's greatest photographers, in early 1955 Dennis Stock captured one of the iconic images of the 20th century: the black-and-white image of the unknown James Dean walking across a deserted Times Square, trademark cigarette in hand, a brooding and introspective figure hunched into his oversized coat, braced against the rain and set against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Stock took a series of photographs in New York, Hollywood and in Dean's hometown of Fairmount, Indiana. Stock went on to photograph Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn resting her head on a car window on the cusp of fame, JFK on the campaign trail. His catalogue of work throughout this period reflects his ability to empathize with his subjects but not become subservient to them. In the late 1950s, Stock's focus shifted to the leading jazz musicians and performers of the day; this book contains some of the best photographs ever taken of artists such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Miles Davies and Louis Armstrong. This book is a beautiful tribute to Stock's timeless legacy and complete access to the Stock Archive was granted for this stunning 288-page edition.
About the Author
Tony Nourmand is co-founder of Reel Art Press and editor of all R|A|P publications.
Graham Marsh is an art director, illustrator and writer who has released many groundbreaking visual books, including The Cover Art of Blue Note Records. His most recent projects include the pocket-sized The Ivy Look, the illustrated children's book, Max and the Lost Note and the coffee-table tome, Hollywood and the Ivy Look. Michael Pritchard is Director-General of The Royal Photographic Society and a widely respected authority on the history of photography and the camera. He has contributed to numerous publications and lectures and broadcasts internationally.