The Avedon Years, Part I

BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

In my last posting along this thread, I told you how I developed a passion for photography that led to becoming an assistant to Richard Avedon, the renowned photographer. The story continues...

Late winter 1952, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Senior year, Allentown High School. While my friends were busy applying to colleges, I was undecided about my future, knowing only two things: that I wanted to escape to New York City and that I wanted to somehow be involved in photography. My parents, practical souls that they were, thought I should study engineering, or accounting, or anything that might guarantee a paying job. But I hated math. I considered the various photo schools, especially the Rochester Institute of Technology, although then there was the nasty problem of paying for it. So I hit on a plan.

Pouring for hours over magazines at the local library, I made a list of the photographers whose work appealed to me. I then checked out the Manhattan telephone directory and narrowed the list down to ten with studios in the Big Apple. To each of these I sent a letter offering to be their apprentice (slave, whatever) and to work for peanuts. This would be a great opportunity to learn the profession right there in an actual working environment.

Three of them responded, and I traveled to New York for interviews. One offered me the job, and that was Richard Avedon, who was then located at 640 Madisin Avenue, corner of 59th Street.

This was to start in September as he worked in Paris during the summer. I was enthralled. As my friends trudged off to Lehigh and Penn State, I installed myself in a tiny apartment just off Central Park West. My father had agreed to subsidize the difference between the pittance I was paid and the cost of living in New York. This was actually a good deal for him, much cheaper than sending me to college — and it was only a year until I was making enough to support myself.

NEXT: The adventures begin. Later, we'll meet some celebrities and later still, I'll also reveal how the legendary luminous quality of Avedon's Black-and-White prints was achieved. Any of you who are still splashing around in darkrooms should find this interesting. CLICK HERE to continue.

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Comments

[Lainey]

Wow. This is quite impressive. I'll have to read all of your blog now, because this is just amazing to me that you worked for Avedon. Those are the kind of stories I love reading about.