Web Work 7 - William Eggleston

I have an overwhelming sense that i need to write or share something containing a little humor. I am actually feeling quite cynical and irritated by the weather in MN right now( started this blog when is snowed), so to combat those feelings, i have chosen to write about a photographer whose pictures remind me of my youth. Okay... to be fair i wasn't actually alive when some of these pics were probably taken( late 1960's), but they evoke the same feeling and look that i now have a great appreciation for... ahhh, the 1970's - 1980's truly great years in fashion and hairstyling :)

William Eggleston - Born 1939 : Still alive and kicking at 72

Widely credited with increasing recognition for color photography into art galleries, when black and white photography was -- dare i say, considered better? ( check out the lady above - she looks extremely PO'D that he's taking her pic. Love it. - but really, the wall behind her...the colors are wonderful- the white of the curb, the contrast in colors really make for an interesting, eye pleasing picture) I think the picture of the building covered in posters is great, he just found something interesting, cluttered and took a pic. - I love it - I'm sure it's pretty cheap to advertise - and I'm thinking it would take quite awhile to read all those. The colors are great in this pic as well, I'd be a bit fearful of going into that establishment - the windows are completely covered in flyers, etc.

Raised in Tennessee, attended boarding school, was somewhat an introverted-type of kid, though he says he never felt like an outsider during school. Studied at Vanderbilt, Delta State and University of Mississippi, of the 6+ years he spent in college - none of them resulted in getting a degree, but during college is were he found his appreciation for photography - a friend gave him a Leica camera and he was exposed to abstract expressionism, luckily for us... another great photographer was born :)

Eggleston's early photographic efforts were inspired by the work of Swiss-born photographer Robert Frank, and by French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson's book, The Decisive Moment.
His work is really simple - almost mundane - he has a way of finding beauty in ordinary things - things that many of us would pass right by, this is what I most appreciate about his work. Everyday, Simple, Honest and Beautiful is how I would describe his photography.

A bit of neat info: He taught at Harvard (1973-74) and during those years he discovered dye-transfer printing.www.http://charlescramer.com/dyetransfer.html ( site has excellent descriptions of the process and step-by-step pictures)

Eggleston's work has been seen on Album covers - here a few examples below:

There is so many things this man has accomplished that there are quite honestly too many to post here - They begin in late 50's and continue through today, the most current I could find was the... Frist Center for Visual Arts in Nashville Exhibition of his work - Jan. 2011 open through May1st. So if you are down that way - swing in and see his work!

These two images are great - what amazing hair - one very "fixed and formal" and one very "free". I appreciate the simplicity of both of these pictures. I love the green color of the booth and the fact that they both have a smoke in their hands - funny and obviously her hair - amazing! The picture of the girl on the right reminds me of the Oasis in St. Charles,MN - They have a counter like that and back in the 80's I took swim lessons in St. Charles and we always trotted down to the Oasis for an ice cream. These pictures are really a great examples of simple things that are beautiful.

Here is a video I found for your enjoyment:)