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In reply to the discussion: Post a true but little known fact about someone famous, living or dead -- Part 6 [View all]flamin lib
(14,559 posts)is noted for having 100 Life Magazine covers was noted for a series of photos of famous people jumping into the air.
From the PH webpage: http://philippehalsman.com/
"Starting in the early 1950s I asked every famous or important person I photographed to jump for me. I was motivated by a genuine curiosity. After all, life has taught us to control and disguise our facial expressions, but it has not taught us to control our jumps. I wanted to see famous people reveal in a jump their ambition or their lack of it, their self-importance or their insecurity, and many other traits." P.H.
Yeah, that's Nixon.
In the mid '70s, a few years before his death, he was invited to speak at my University (then East Texas State University, now Texas A&M Commerce) because it was known as one of the premier photography schools among those in the community. I was able to speak to him personally and as a budding photographer somewhat in awe of his place in history I somberly asked him about the 'Jump' series and the revelations it presented of his subjects.
His smile was a bit sly but enough to crinkle his weathered face and he told me, "I just wanted to see if they would actually do it just because I said to. Never underestimate the power that your craft can give you."
I am also proud to be the only photographer exhibiting in the department Gallery whose work he commented on.