James Van Der Zee

In fifth grade James owned his own camera. He took pictures of family and friends and would develop e them himself.
In 1914, he worked as a darkroom Technician. Three years later he opened his own studio. In the 1920's he shot studio portraits, wedding, sport teams, funerals and Celebrities. He would retouch negatives to straighten teeth or fill a bald spot photos. James Van Der Zee developed photo montage. It was another technique to multiply images in one picture. These photos of middle class black life was a side America rarely seen.
In 1932, his business struggled through the depression. Personal camera started to take the places of professional photography. They were more available to be purchased. People had very little need for photographer. James were forced to shoot odd jobs to make ends meet.
In 1968, Van Der Zee collection of 75,000 photos covering 60 years of African American life was discovered by Reginald McGhee. New York's Metropolitan Museum of art featured his exhibit called " Harlem On My Mind". That night he received national recognition.