Master Photographer – Minor White

June 11, 2011 • Tim Parkin

Some photographers have an extended influence far beyond their public notoriety. Minor White epitomises these individuals. His work in analysing and teaching photography created a whole host of ‘followers’ and in some cases ‘acolytes’ and his writing still inspires today, but a lot of people don’t know his photography (or may be put off by his proclivities) which is a real shame. Hopefully this short biography will help as an introducton. For extensive information about Minor White, I strongly recommend “The Eye That Shapes” which studies his work and teachings in some detail and includes a great sampling from his portfolios (see the book review in this issue).

Minor Was born in 1908 to a book keeper and a dressmaker and received his first camera from his grandfather at the age of 8. Over the next few years his parents had various separations until they separated when he was 21. At 16, Minor inheritied a carbon arc projector and a whole load of historical travel slides.

 

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5 Responses

  1. Adam Pierzchala

    Thanks for this review Tim. With some shame I admit to not having studied the work of Minor White before but this article has inspired me to take a closer look to further guide me in my return to black & white. Rgds., Adam

    On June 12, 2011 at 8:39 am • Reply
    • Tim Parkin

      I appreciate the feedback Adam – he’s an intruiging photographer and personality..

      On June 12, 2011 at 8:40 am • Reply
  2. haimesa

    Fantastic summary; again he is a photographer that I wasn’t well enough aware of. This is my favourite part of the magazine, it is really an education in itself. As always with the greats, it’s amazing how modern his work looks.

    On June 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm • Reply
  3. davidlangan

    I remember checking his stuff out when Ansel Adams mentioned him in his autobiography (if memorry serves me right taking over from adams as a teacher at a university or arts foundation??). I seem to get alot more from the writings of landscape photographers from that generation than I do from the images. I recently have become fascinated by the sub genres of landscape photography of that time (straight, creative, pictorialism etc) and how differently their interpretations seem to populous interpretations of today (a point expertly pointed out in this article!)

    On June 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm • Reply
  4. Malcolm MacGregor

    Tim – an excellent synopsis of a very complex character. The foundation of Aperture and his commitment to the magazine was remarkable. He was one of the few photographers that linked photography to zen. Another was H.Cartier-Bresson. I think Minor White’s work needs to be looked at in conjunction with those who influenced him such as Stieglitz and the concept of the equivalent.

    Thanks for the recommendation ‘The Eye that Shapes’

    Malcolm

    On June 27, 2011 at 6:35 pm • Reply

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