01/08/2023
If you have a chance to listen to Max Posner’s moving piece on Lori Grinker’s work on her late mother - recently awarded a grant from The Bob and Diane Fund - on NPR today.
Well worth your time on this Sunday.
Contact Press Images
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Contact Press Images was formed to give its journalists - who were photographers - a greater voice i Under the direction of Robert Pledge.
Contact Press Images is one of the most significant agencies and archives of late-20th-century in existence. Representing the work of two-dozen preeminent photographers, including:
Founding Members: David Burnett, Frank Fournier, Kenneth Jarecke, Annie Leibovitz, Dilip Mehta, Alon Reininger;
Senior Members: Kristen Ashburn, Alexandra Avakian, Stephen Dupont and Lori Grinker;
Contributors: Julia
na Beasley, Sean Hemmerle, James Hill, Edward Keating
Special Contributors: Jane Evelyn Atwood, Martine Barrat, Jonathan Becker, George Butler, Yunghi Kim, Li Zhensheng, Ken Light, Don McCullin, Sebastiaio Salgado and Alfred Wertheimer. Estates: Gilles Caron and Olivier Rebbot
This exceptional body of work spans the rise of the Berlin Wall to present day, and includes images of the major events, personalities, and social currents of the 20th century through present day. Contact was founded in New York in 1976, nine months after the end of the war in Vietnam, to facilitate the production of new, independent photojournalism. Photographer joined or were selected based on talent and commitment or area of specialization or interest. The agency maintained a consistent editorial direction: a documentary approach that valued depth over speed, pioneered the use of color film to cover the news, in addition to black and white, and primarily focused its collective lens on conflict, human rights issues, and important cultural trends. The agency has since documented the era that saw the end of apartheid, the fall of Soviet Empire, revolution in Central America, famine and genocide in Africa, ethnic violence in the Balkans, the AIDS pandemic, the birth of the Internet, and the War on Terror. Contact photographers have collectively gathered many of the industry’s most distinguished honors, including annual awards from the World Press Photo Foundation in the Netherlands, the National Press Photographers Association, the Overseas Press Club of America and the American Society of Media Photographers. One of the last independent international photographic agencies still in operation, Contact Press Images is unique among agencies of the period (Black Star, Gamma, Magnum, Rapho, Sipa, Sygma) in that its holdings and their contextual materials remain fully intact. As such, the collection represents much more than a gathering of pictures; it is a photographic time capsule, providing a one-of-a-kind insight into history, and into the industry dedicated to capturing it.
Operating as usual
01/06/2023
Two years after one of the most heinous acts of political grandstanding/incitement to riot and insurrection, the Jan 6 investigations have moved to a new phase. With 456 Jan 6 marauders pleading guilty, we will soon see what a resolute DOJ does with THE criminal referral of this young century. The massive damage and fortifications present in DC following these horrific events and documented here are largely gone now but for all us, the memories of that day will live on all our days.
Photographs by David Burnett/Contact
01/06/2023
Walter Cunningham, a civilian astronaut whose only mission in space, aboard Apollo 7, revived NASA’s quest to put men on the moon in the wake of a launching-pad fire that killed three astronauts, died on Tuesday in Houston. He was 90.
His death was announced by NASA.
Mr. Cunningham, a physicist and a former Marine pilot, joined with Capt. Walter M. Schirra Jr. of the Navy and Maj. Donn F. Eisele of the Air Force on a virtually flawless 11-day mission in October 1968. They completed 163 orbits of the Earth (four and a half million miles) in a reconstructed space capsule with many safety modifications and became the first NASA astronauts to appear on television from space.
The flight — the first manned Apollo mission — buoyed an America shocked by the capsule fire that took the lives of Virgil I. Grissom, Roger B. Chaffee and Edward H. White II as they rehearsed for an envisioned Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy, Fla., in January 1967.
“We carried the nation’s hope with us,” Mr. Cunningham wrote in his memoir, “The All-American Boys” (1977). “Twenty-one months before, a fire on the very pad from which we launched had killed three of our teammates. One more setback now, and the prospects of landing a man on the moon before 1970 would be gone forever.”
David photographed Walt twice, once for a TIME portfolio on the Apollo astronauts and then 11 years later, in BW, for the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 for The Washington Post. Said Burnett, “He was one cool guy.”
01/06/2023
Walter Cunningham, a civilian astronaut whose only mission in space, aboard Apollo 7, revived NASA’s quest to put men on the moon in the wake of a launching-pad fire that killed three astronauts, died on Tuesday in Houston. He was 90.
His death was announced by NASA.
Mr. Cunningham, a physicist and a former Marine pilot, joined with Capt. Walter M. Schirra Jr. of the Navy and Maj. Donn F. Eisele of the Air Force on a virtually flawless 11-day mission in October 1968. They completed 163 orbits of the Earth (four and a half million miles) in a reconstructed space capsule with many safety modifications and became the first NASA astronauts to appear on television from space.
The flight — the first manned Apollo mission — buoyed an America shocked by the capsule fire that took the lives of Virgil I. Grissom, Roger B. Chaffee and Edward H. White II as they rehearsed for an envisioned Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy, Fla., in January 1967.
“We carried the nation’s hope with us,” Mr. Cunningham wrote in his memoir, “The All-American Boys” (1977). “Twenty-one months before, a fire on the very pad from which we launched had killed three of our teammates. One more setback now, and the prospects of landing a man on the moon before 1970 would be gone forever.”
David photographed Walt twice, once for a TIME portfolio on the Apollo astronauts and then 11 years later, in BW, for the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 for The Washington Post. Said Burnett, “He was one cool guy.”
01/01/2023
Bonne année et bonne santé !
To an angelic year…
Photograph by the ever-amazing Frank Fournier/Contact
12/30/2022
Frame grab from last night’s PBS NewsHour with Judy Woodruff highlighting Senator Patrick Leahy’s (President pro tempore) last week in office. Leahy,82, an avid photographer known to sling a Leica, is a 47 year Democratic Senator from Vermont. Burnett was the (kneeling flush right) when then Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito came to visit Leahy before confirmation hearings.
Thank you for your service Senator and Bon voyage.
Smooth seas and following winds.
12/30/2022
Before we wade, trepidatiously, into the New Year, prayerful wishes for peace, health and friendship wherever your path leads you.
Exquisitely quiet beauty: images by Contact’s own Yunghi Kim from her 2006 TIME assignment in Sri Lanka. Wishes too for peace and happiness in that strife filled country.
All photographs by (c) Yunghi Kim/Contact
12/30/2022
Pele, RIP.
Immortalized by Annie Leibovitz in this portrait made in Purchase, NY, 1981.
Next image: Pelé personally commissioned 18k gold cast bronze foot. Pelé, widely considered the greatest footballer in history, sat with world famous Roman sculptor, Dante Mortet, and had a cast of his foot sculpted and created the bronze replica of his exact left foot. Starting from a silicone cast, Mortet pours the wax and lets it cool. The wax foot is shaped and creates a sculpture. At this point, the foot is transformed from wax to bronze through the ancient technique of casting into lost wax. It then chisels and patinas itself before the gold plating puts on the final touch.
The cast bronze foot is plated with 18k gold and is inscribed "Dante Mortet" on the back left heel. Mortet, a 6th generation sculptor, whose family began creating chalices for the Pope over 120 years ago, has established himself as the go-to sculptor for Hollywood moguls. He has created bronze sculptures of the hands of Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Angelica Houston and Quentin Tarantino, among others.
This 18k gold foot was donated through Pelegacy in support of the Pelé Foundation to be auctioned off to benefit Brazil's fight against and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
9 1/2 inches long by 3 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall
Pelegacy in support of the Pelé Foundation
12/28/2022
That’s pretty good to have 5 EAW alums win the Yunghi Kim Grant!
Congrats again to all!
12/25/2022
No L
Noel. Merry Merry.
12/25/2022
What an honor it was to once again review the applications (with talented photographer Natalie Behring) of 116 working freelance photojournalists developing and furthering stories and in so doing, elevating our profession.
Congrats to all the entrants, in my eyes you are all winners.
Kudos and RESPECT to Yunghi Kim the heart and soul of The Yunghi Kim grant, one of the staunchest defenders of the profession and press freedoms who is also creative and courageous and leads by example. I am honored to take part in this annual grant as I am honored to count Yunghi as a colleague and close friend.
Merry merry!
- Jeffrey D Smith
12/25/2022
No L (train, that is!)
Have a Merry and healthy.
No turnstile jumping please.
12/25/2022
Holiday Greetings from Dilip Mehta
New Delhi, India
12/25/2022
Remember the neediest. The late Ed Keating had a soft spot for the homeless and less fortunate. His images of the poor are some of his most heart rending.
Photograph (c) Edward Keating/Contact
12/23/2022
A very Brooklyn Christmas.
By Yunghi Kim/Contact
Merry Merry! 🤶
12/23/2022
Spotlight on last minute shopping: Naughty or Nice, we hope you’re on someone’s list to be gifted. Abraham & Strauss is having a sale! From Frank Fournier’s color-rich homage to 70s NYC titled “Red-Eye: New York in the 70s” by one the best street photographers that ever was.
Merry Merry.
12/22/2022
Another rainy day in New York City. Times Square, 1977
(c) Frank Fournier/Contact
12/22/2022
Merry Christmas from Mr Big Shot and other Rockaways memories. From Contact’s Juliana Beasley and her “Last Stop Rockaways” project.
Getouttahere.
All photographs (c) Juliana Beasley/Contact
12/22/2022
Sad Santa. Remember the neediest on this holiday.
Philadelphia, PA
(c) Ken Jarecke/Contact
12/19/2022
The holiday cards have started flowing in. This from Contact photographer Tomas “Tomo” Muscionico and his lovely bride ThiAhn. From Las Vegas.
Merry Merry!
12/19/2022
One of my favorite Ed Keating images…presages this time of year. Missing Ed as he’d always drop by the office to chat before the holidays.
Photograph by Edward Keating/Contact
12/18/2022
To our friends and brethren - May the lights of the holiday burn bright and long, Chag Sameach.
Happy Chanukah.
Contact Press Images
12/18/2022
FOR THE AGES: There are a dozen or so images of Meghan Markle by the California photographer John Dlugolecki, who Contact have represented since 2017, in the one espisode of Harry & Meghan’s Neflix series on same. What a hoot to see them pop up at home on screen.
Among dozens of other client’s John photographed school portraits in some of LA County’s Catholic schools for decades. Unlike most mass-produced school portrait shoots that are executed as work-for-hire, John always held onto his copyright, filing his negs selling packages of images not just from an annual photo setting but from photography he shot through the year at different events or clubs at schools, some shot, second camera by John’s wife, Vicki Conrad.
Long, long story short, by maintaining his archive John was well situated when it was announced that Harry proposed to Meghan. A gift that keeps on giving.
All photographs - and they are all registered - (c) John Dlugolecki/Contact Press Images
12/18/2022
FOR THE AGES: There are a dozen or so images of Meghan Markle by the California photographer John Dlugolecki, who Contact have represented since 2017, in the one espisode of Harry & Meghan’s Neflix series on same. What a hoot to see them pop up at home on screen.
Among dozens of other client’s John photographed school portraits in some of LA County’s Catholic schools for decades. Unlike most mass-produced school portrait shoots that are executed as work-for-hire, John always held onto his copyright, filing his negs selling packages of images not just from an annual photo setting but from photography he shot through the year at different events or clubs at schools, some shot, second camera by John’s wife, Vicki Conrad.
Long, long story short, by maintaining his archive John was well situated when it was announced that Harry proposed to Meghan. A gift that keeps on giving.
All photographs - and they are all registered - (c) John Dlugolecki/Contact Press Images
12/18/2022
Industrial Santa, Laurel, Montana
(c) Ken Jarecke/Contact
12/16/2022
TIS THE SEASON FOR MARIACHI - East LA is a historical hub for mariachis who gather on street corners, in front of local restaurants and at the famed Mariachi Plaza to play their music and search for work. Many mariachis are patrons of Candelas Guitars, a family owned business run by Tomas Delgado out of a small store front on Cesar Chavez Blvd. Delgado is renowned for his custom guitar building and renovations.
This time of year is especially busy for Mariachi though you’d never know it from the subways of NYC where they seem to be a very frequent presence on trains especially in the morning rush when one is especially receptive to Mariachi bands!
Photographs by Contact contributor Todd Bigelow.
Feliz Navidad!
12/15/2022
October 1974 - The stadium team at Yankee Stadium draws the tarp on the field as a rainstorm threatens. The Yanks were playing the Indians that night, the late Ga***rd Perry on the mound for Cleveland.
Image by the Maestro (c) David Burnett/Contact Press Images
12/09/2022
Thirty years ago today - Dec 9, 1992 US Marines landed on the beaches of Mogadishu, Somalia as part of then Press George H. Bush’s “Operation Restore Hope.” Marines landed only to find the press corp there ahead (including Yunghi Kim, then on staff with the Boston Globe) of them photographing the supposed quiet landing rather widely. Somalia was long ravaged by famine and the highjacking of food supplies and other humanitarian aid by factional warlords. Events on the ground ultimately led the Unified Task Force to launch a raid to capture warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid who was controling swaths of Mogadishu. The failed mission led which to the downing a military chopper carrying Delta operators was retold in the Ridley Scott movie “Black Hawk Down.”
12/09/2022
Farmer dump tons of Sorghum in the streets of Elk Point, Nebraska, 1985. “They dumped it in the middle of the road because all the grain elevators were full. It was a bumper crop that year and they just didn’t have anywhere to store it. Meanwhile, half way around the world, if you remember the famine in Ethiopia was still raging. Thousands died while food was dumped in Midwest streets,” said Contact’s Ken Jarecke.
This was likely one of the first things Ken shot for Contact.
12/08/2022
In lieu of going on NYT.com today and in support of our colleagues and friends - great editors, art directors and photographers - at the NYT striking today for a decent living wage, I will play the game Milton Bradley board game Newsdesk!
Early perspective : it doesn’t hold a candle to NYTimes!
12/08/2022
Dec 8, 1980 - The murder of John Lennon. The crime scene just after Lennon was removed to Roosevelt Hospital. Other images by Frank Fournier and Alon Reininger in the days after when fans mourned and besiege The Dakota for weeks and weeks.
12/06/2022
One of the preeminent Bay Area s*x work activists for nearly 50 years and the originator of the term “s*x work,” Carol Leigh, a.k.a. Scarlot Harlot, died of cancer last Wednesday.
San Francisco has been a hub of activism for the tolerance and rights of s*x workers. And while it may be known as “the world's oldest profession,” s*x work has only been known as “s*x wok” since the mid-1980s. The term was coined by Carol Leigh, better known publicly as Scarlot Harlot, a well-known San Francisco activist (who also frequented AIDS demos and supported AIDS relief efforts) who in 1990 co-founded the Bay Area S*x Work Bay Area S*x Worker Advocacy Network (BAYSWAN) and in 1999 the S*x Worker Film & Arts Festival, both of which still exist today. But they will no longer have their co-founder Scarlot Harlot , as the Chronicle reports Carol Leigh died Wednesday of cancer. She was 71.
Photograph by Alon Reininger/Contact
*xworkiswork *xworkers
12/02/2022
Two prints fresh out of the darkroom by Contact’s own Ken Light from his Guggenheim Fellowship project on the Rust Belt-post 2020 elections. A strong juxtaposition of you ask me.
L: JD Vance campaign stop, Ohio
R: Flea market, Ohio
All photographs (c) Ken Light/Contact Press Images
12/02/2022
Two prints fresh out of the darkroom by Contact’s own Ken Light from his Guggenheim Fellowship project on the Rust Belt-post 2020 elections. A strong juxtaposition of you ask me.
L: JD Vance campaign stop, Ohio
R: Flea market, Ohio
All photographs (c) Ken Light/Contact Press Images
12/01/2022
On this World AIDS Day a salute to Alon Reininger who was one of the earliest to document what was referred to then as the “gay plague.” In this June 1983 image you can see where the city was number-wise in terms of AIDS-related deaths. Friends, partners and family held aloft signs indicating what number their loved ones death signified. Frighteningly small numbers in those early days. As of 2018 approx 700,000 people have died from AIDS in America. Nearly 13,000 die each year in the U.S. alone.
Alon began studying the mysterious cancer that ended the life of American homos*xuals in 1981, in the form of a report on the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in New York, before the disease was baptized with the name of "AIDS". He was one of the first photojournalists to discuss the issue and decided to address it despite the formidable obstacles he faced working through his acquaintance with playwright and AIDS activist Larry Kramer. “When 50 or 80 people started to [die], it became apparent that something was going on. [Kramer and I] spoke about it, and then tried to figure out how I would climb into it,” Reininger told Photo District News years ago. Research led Reininger to an AIDS patient named Ken Meeks, whom he photographed. Three days later, Meeks died.
One of photos Reininger got that day showed Meeks bent into a wheelchair, stick thin, his arm spotted with blood-colored lesions -Kaposi’s sarcomas. But it is Meeks’s face, his eyes in particular, that gave the image meaning. The eyes cry out. They want to be heard. They want to tell a story that until 1986 had been ignored.
As the initial sense of perplexity in the gay community arose with anger against the government and the media, photojournalists went in search of sensational images of dying AIDS patients, instead of pro-life affirmations. of the patients who fight against the disease. A year and a half after Reininger made his iconic photographs of Ken Meeks, a renewed Life magazine published his full report for the first time, five years after he started documenting it. The photograph won the World Press Premier Award in 1997.
12/01/2022
Baseball pitching legend Ga***rd Perry is dead at age 83.
It was only this summer churning through one of David’s storage rooms full of older takes that I came across this early Sports Illustrated shoot of Ga***rd when the Padres played the Yanks in NYC. In the take were also some sweet Bobby Mercer images. Now both are gone from us. Scanned just a few weeks ago.
Ga***rd Jackson Perry was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for eight different teams from 1962 to 1983. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average. Hall of fame induction: 1991
Number: 36 (San Francisco Giants / Pitcher), 36 (San Diego Padres / Pitcher)
RIP.
All photographs by David Burnett/Contact
#36
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