Elliott Erwitt
Elliott Erwitt (born 1928) is an acknowledged master of ironic black and white portrait photography. One of Erwitt’s most memorable works are photographs of Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon, Jacqueline Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery and “White/Colored” photo, as a clear demonstration of the life of US citizens during the racial segregation period.
However, it was Erwitt’s street photographs that went down in the history of photography as a gold standard of natural composition (the photographer is well-known as a sceptic for staged shots). Staying true to his principles, Erwitt photographed movie stars and politicians in the same manner – capturing them by surprise, setting the worked-out poses and tense smiles aside.
However, it was Erwitt’s street photographs that went down in the history of photography as a gold standard of natural composition (the photographer is well-known as a sceptic for staged shots). Staying true to his principles, Erwitt photographed movie stars and politicians in the same manner – capturing them by surprise, setting the worked-out poses and tense smiles aside.
Elliott Erwitt
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«Erwitt photographed movie stars and politicians by surprise, rejecting staged poses in favor of natural moments».
Erwitt’s biography is also quite unusual. The son of Russian immigrants in Paris, he spent the first decade of his life (from 1928 to 1938) in Italy. Elio Romano (the real name of future street genius) spent his childhood, watching the formation of the Mussolini regime. It was Italian fascism that forced his family to migrate once again. Hence Elio became an American citizen in 1939.
In 1941, the Erwitt family ended up in Los Angeles, California. Quite soon, the young man obtained a SLR camera, starting his career of the photographer at the age of 14. He and his father later moved to New York, where Elliott entered the Faculty of Cinematography. Faced with the need to earn money on his own, the young photographer was making prints with facsimile signatures of popular movie actors.
Soon in the 50s Elliott started working for the Standart Oil Company. Erwitt also worked as a freelance photographer and his works were published by a number of magazines such as Life and Collier. It was then he met many already well-known colleagues, Robert Capa was among them.
In 1941, the Erwitt family ended up in Los Angeles, California. Quite soon, the young man obtained a SLR camera, starting his career of the photographer at the age of 14. He and his father later moved to New York, where Elliott entered the Faculty of Cinematography. Faced with the need to earn money on his own, the young photographer was making prints with facsimile signatures of popular movie actors.
Soon in the 50s Elliott started working for the Standart Oil Company. Erwitt also worked as a freelance photographer and his works were published by a number of magazines such as Life and Collier. It was then he met many already well-known colleagues, Robert Capa was among them.
At the same time, he began his cooperation with the US Army and made a business trips to Germany and France in the status of assistant military photographer. Initially Erwitt was ordered to be an anti-aircraft gunner in the Korean War, but was later transferred to Europe on other position.
Since 1953, the photographer worked at the now-iconic Magnum Photos agency, while continuing his personal photography trips around the globe. The famous images of Ernesto Che Guevara in Cuba happened because of one of those. Documenting the events of that hectic era, Erwitt quickly began climbing the career ladder: 3 years later he participated in the Family of Man exhibition, hosted by The Museum of Modern Art of New York, and in 1968 became the president of Magnum Photos. It’s worth noting that in this position Erwitt did three terms.
Since 1953, the photographer worked at the now-iconic Magnum Photos agency, while continuing his personal photography trips around the globe. The famous images of Ernesto Che Guevara in Cuba happened because of one of those. Documenting the events of that hectic era, Erwitt quickly began climbing the career ladder: 3 years later he participated in the Family of Man exhibition, hosted by The Museum of Modern Art of New York, and in 1968 became the president of Magnum Photos. It’s worth noting that in this position Erwitt did three terms.
«Photography is a craft. Anyone can learn a craft with normal intelligence and application. To take it beyond the craft is something else. That’s when magic comes in. And I don’t know that there’s any explanation for that».
Despite the high post, the photographer did not give up his passion for photography and even managed to take 3 full meters movies during the 1970s, applying the knowledge gained during his years in New York. During his career Erwitt published about 20 photobooks and took part in numerous exhibitions. Witnesses claim that during his exhibitions he was particularly very curious to capture visitors’ reaction to his photographs.
Elliott Erwitt still lives in Manhattan. The rumours tell that the genius has almost completely switched the focus of his professional attention from people to dogs. Yet the legend says that he still practices his spontaneous sincerity, frightening those passing by with a horn of his bicycle and capturing their reaction on camera.
Elliott Erwitt still lives in Manhattan. The rumours tell that the genius has almost completely switched the focus of his professional attention from people to dogs. Yet the legend says that he still practices his spontaneous sincerity, frightening those passing by with a horn of his bicycle and capturing their reaction on camera.
Main rules of photography by Elliott Erwitt
Do not retouch the photographs
It is noteworthy that one of photographer’s features is his dislike of long and complicated post-production. Retouching the image and manipulating in the photo editor seems overestimated to the maitre. You cannot add authentic emotions, humour and life artificially.
Photograph as much as you can
“You just need practice and application of what you've learned. My absolute conviction is that if you are working reasonably well the only important thing is to keep shooting...it doesn't matter whether you are making money or not. Keep working, because as you go through the process of working things begin to happen.”- tells Elliott Erwitt
Do not retouch the photographs
It is noteworthy that one of photographer’s features is his dislike of long and complicated post-production. Retouching the image and manipulating in the photo editor seems overestimated to the maitre. You cannot add authentic emotions, humour and life artificially.
Photograph as much as you can
“You just need practice and application of what you've learned. My absolute conviction is that if you are working reasonably well the only important thing is to keep shooting...it doesn't matter whether you are making money or not. Keep working, because as you go through the process of working things begin to happen.”- tells Elliott Erwitt