No One Puts Irving Penn In A Corner - The Making Of The Master Photographer

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Save 10% by using code JAN22 till 31st Jan 2022 Discover the story behind how Irving Penn's iconic corner style or portrait was developed, and what happened when Marlene Dietrich tried to tell Penn how to be a photographer.
Recommended Books:
Irving Penn: Centennial - geni.us/mBKrTN
Passage: A Work Record - geni.us/r4wak
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[@ThePhotographicEye]

Whilst I was editing this video it occured to me that I look like I've been in a duel! Actually it's just the result of living with two cats and a toddler, all of whom have sharp nails :D Hope you enjoyed this episode looking at Irving Penn's corner portraits. In later videos we'll look at his other great photography. What do you enjoy most of his? The fashion, the still lifes or his other portrait work? Let me know in the comments below.

[@kristoffergo6294]

Damn!!! This is awesome:) Not just gear reviews, but talking about photography as an art:) thanks for these videos!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

No, thanks to you for watching them and commenting! I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.

[@miless3450]

This channel is SUCH a breath of fresh air and I can't thank you enough for these wonderful and informative videos! I can't wait to see you grow, I really feel like this is all required watching at this point!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you Miles, that's great to hear. I'm so pleased that you and everyone else seems to be enjoying the episodes.

[@oncleschultz]

As always sensisitive, sensible and pleasantly clear...

[@GodsPoetryProductions]

You made me go out and start doing photography again. Thank

[@aatt3209]

At the de Young Museum in SF, CA, Irving Penn's photography, many shown here, are currently on exhibit for the viewers to have a close in-person look at this giant's monumental work in photography. It was breath-taking to be inside a room filled with black-and-white images of famous people, cigarette butts, hippies, common folks, fashion models, and still life. It's an experience I'll never forget.

[@jamiej.tilleyphotographyar5177]

I never realized how unfamiliar I was with the work of Irving Penn. Thank you for another enlightening video.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Jamie. When I sat down to work on this video I thought about trying to cover ALL of his photography, but then realised I don't have a few months to put together a six hour epic video! So decided to focus on the work of his I enjoy most. I'm pleased you enjoyed it and it introduced you to some of his photography you weren't aware of - I would imagine people are most familiar with his Lips photographs and the later straight portraits of people like Pacino etc. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment

[@jamaljameelphotography960]

I’m so glad I found your channel

[@suehodnett6911]

Thanks, actually didn't know anything about him before now.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hope it encourages you go discover some more about his wonderful photography. Thanks for commenting.

[@ibp2007]

Bravo.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

🙏

[@alexcarrillo5510]

When I was at City College photo department that we have TRY to do this lighting scene for a class assignment, and could not match it. As when seeing these series of photos that my teacher called it the Penn Light Assignment... Love it... Thank You

[@hedonisticsociety361]

You have Amazon unique content and i love the way you present. It's a lot of effort you put in these. Here at 1.2k subs. One day you will have a million!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks ever so much. I’m really pleased you enjoy them. I’m so humbled that so many people like what I put together.

[@terrywbreedlove]

I have an Irving Penn book and it is one of my favourites. I am not much into fashion or portraiture but he did it in such an artistic way.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Which book do you have? A lot of fashion I'm on the fence about, especially these days, but I love the 50/60's aesthetic that Penn/Avedon/Bailey/Duffy etc used.

[@terrywbreedlove]

@@ThePhotographicEye I have the Centennial book. I also have an Avedon book. I bought them to have in my portrait studio when I had one. My most favourite book is by Sebastião Salgado followed closely by Fan Ho. .

[@ThePhotographicEye]

​@@terrywbreedlove I've also got Centennial, there are others on my wishlist, but silly me didn't buy them when they were in print, so now they are on the 'later/special occasion' list! You've reminded me I have a few books at my own studio which I should rescue - one of which is an interesting collection of Aperture magazine articles from the 50/70's Very interesting reading, especially the article by Ansel Adams about making money from photography, which seems as prescient today as it was then.. amzn.to/3rHOaMu

[@KentJohnson123]

Wonderfully presented. Thank you.

[@kompst]

The soft light of his studio, the challenging of his subjects and the beauty of his prints, which I believe were platinum, combine to put him in a class by himself. Very enjoyable post.

[@cowboyyoga]

Hi Alex ! Yet another great video! Thank you for all your time, support, and great ideas! You sure have been a rich gold nugget in my life! ))) Thank you!

[@marcthibault8723]

Another great video...Thank you!

[@tobiasslater-hunt6680]

as always informative, engaging and inspirational.

[@gpdoyon]

LOOOOOVED this video!

[@ahmedb2559]

thank you !

[@nancyhood1514]

amazing! can't wait for the next video!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Nancy. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mikezarnek8588]

Thank you!

[@MrRaggedcrow]

Wonderful

[@jasoncario7063]

I LOOOOVVVEEEEE your channel! It is one of the best out there!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you!

[@oncleschultz]

Definitely I enjoy these videos...

[@lout1587]

Your videos are a big gift to the photographic community. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed the video Lou, thanks ever so much for leaving your comment.

[@uncle0eric]

I'm so glad I found your channel. The content here is just terrific.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks, I really appreciate it :D

[@BubbleGendut]

I saw the Irving Penn: Resonance exhibition at, Fotografiska, Stockholm, Sweden in 2017 Great to see his work in print like this. Apart from portrait was a series on skulls still life in particular animal skulls

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Fotografiska is on my bucket list of places to visit.

[@carrigman]

Excellent video on Penn, one of my favourite photographers, and a great video series - it's so refreshing to be concentrating on images, not gear. Keep 'em coming!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Many thanks!

[@TheCatLady74]

Such simple elegance...they are wonderfully arresting despite their pared-back settings. Really well done, loved this.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you. One day I'll create a blooper reel of me chasing all the cats away whilst I'm filming!

[@fedorvercammenphotography]

The eye, the essence of photography, good content, timing and context, keep inspiring !

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you so much 😀

[@peternilmot9144]

Magnificent content! I love the work of Irving Penn! I particularly find his portraits of performing artists of the time, such as Leonard Bernstein, engrossing. Subscribed!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for the sub peter! It's great to have you here and I'm pleased your enjoying the videos.

[@ejmphotodotcom]

Great series!!!!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That's wonderful, thanks ever so much ejm

[@camloff]

Carlos Loff Fonseca, Lisbon. You are doing an excelent job. Your sites are superb and we can learn a lot. Fresh air.

[@edwardduarte7393]

Mr.Penn is the best of the best. The kids in Cusco? His cars in Detroit. True Master! The first real book I bought was Passage.

[@starvingartistscollective]

What a great find you are!! Real information presented with enthusiasm and grace. Have become fed up with photography channels relying on equipment reviews, so to find someone interested in the art, design, personalities and history of photography is a delight! New subscriber!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you! Glad to have you here.

[@TheWaterboarders]

Not heard of Penn before or seen these images but they are amazing and inspiring. Thanks for sharing this. It's always good to get a celebrity out of their comfort zone, in my opinion!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad I could introduce the two of you! Thanks for the comment

[@mathieurabary]

Your channel is amazing, thank you for taking the time to make these! I am a self-taught photographer that comes from the modern age of photography with digital & social media. I did not have classic training and your videos provide me with a very needed education on the history of photography. Thank you so much once again!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I'm so very pleased to hear that Mathieu, thank you.

[@anthonygarcia3157]

Inspiring

[@CaptainProjects]

Really loved your video!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you so much!

[@VagabondKing100]

A modern take on the Corner Portraits is Hot Ones on the First We Feast KZbin channel. They feed celebrities increasingly hot buffalo wings and ask pointed questions to break down walls/masks/barriers the interviewees have to get to the real self.

[@shamrockisland]

Another amazing video. The photo scene need your content.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for those kind words

[@derricksansome236]

Brilliant!!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

🙏

[@zenonbillings9008]

excellent ! thank you for your insightful comments....zen billings in canada

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@fuelediowa]

Big thumbs up I am glad you linked this back from you newer video or I never would have seen it. Good work. I am Odd I guess because I would prefer to do portrait photography over any other. Landscape or Street I feel so out of place. What is even worse As my wife would say I am the most anti social , social person she as ever know. I am very uncomfortable dealing with people however I am very good at dealing with people. To the point Stanger's I have never met always walk up to me and start telling me there life story or things you would only share with your best friend.

[@BruceWalkerPhotography]

Regarding what subject matter of Penn's I enjoy most: the fashion, then the portraits. But what I enjoy most about Penn is his graphics sensibilities. I just love folks who create a very compelling and elegant composition with their subject. Arnold Newman strikes me as the unsurpassed master of that. (To better grasp Newman's and Penn's styles I got Paul Rand's Thoughts on Design which is really a 1950's ad man's visual bible.)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I think I've heard of that book. Sounds like the sort of thing I would enjoy. Glad you like the channel

[@aes53]

I’ve been a huge fan of Irving Penn for fifty years. I think of him as eloquent in a way few other photographers are. While I’ve seen many Penn shows over the years the one that sticks with most was probably the first one I saw. It was the Earthly Bodies show at the Marlborough gallery in New York in 1980. These were his nudes of artists models who did not conform to the standards of fashion models of the time. If was an amazing show. Thanks for including him in your excellent series.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it. It's such a short look at just one aspect of his photography...

[@kjellandersson3949]

I just discovered your channel and I'm really happy. This reminds me of The Art of Photography before the lens reviews took over. Don't get me wrong, I still watch reviews (way to many) but they just makes me wanna buy more gear. This makes me think of new ways to take photos :-)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Kjell. Ted has done his own thing and that's fine, but yes, I wanted more of this kind of content from him, so decided to do it myself. Seems I wasn't alone!

[@danielrao3120]

I'm trying hard to restrict myself to one of these enlightning videos a day. It's difficult but so rewarding. A truly wonderful series. Many thanks. Daniel

[@ThePhotographicEye]

At least they are none fattening - although I do snack on almonds almost constantly whilst editing them! Thanks and I'm really pleased you enjoy them

[@marinrealestatephotography]

I can see why. The videos are kind of like candy and the temptation is to just consume them one after another. But then the individual "flavor" of each video, of each artist, becomes a blur. So much better to just watch one or two and reflect on them.

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

Hi Alex. Never heard, nor seen any of his work. And what a great idea. I find them amazing, even if I don’t understand art. The way you describe, how it all came about it, makes so much sense. Thank you again for this informative video.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you found it interesting Heinz. This is why I put this channel together, to introduce people to more photographers and ways of looking at photographs.

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

@@ThePhotographicEye Yes, it’s really worth every minute to watch. And most of all, it makes you want to pick up your camera soon again. Have a fine weekend

[@peter2712]

Well done. Thanks for sharing. A truly educational experience. What are the chances of ever finding out about these photographers if not for the effort you put into these.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Peter - just glad I can help you discover new inspiration.

[@haraldniederstatter4068]

Danke!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Harald!

[@haraldniederstatter4068]

@@ThePhotographicEye my pleasure, it's up to me to say THANK YOU!!!

[@canturgan]

Marlene Dietrich was a lighting expert.

[@terjemyller6573]

Can only echo all the others - your work is really, really good. Lucid, easy to follow although not at all superficial. Excellent choices of photographers. So thanks a lot! I’m eaglerly awaiting the next choices. Maybe a Japanese, like Moriyama? Or a surprise, like the not too well known Danish master Krass Clement?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome! Thank you! I'm trying to bring in a few more lesser known photographers in the next few weeks.

[@Harlequin565]

Enjoyable film, thanks for sharing. I find it really interesting to see how the "greats" managed to photograph their subjects and the lengths they would go to, to try and get something unusual from them. Seeing Dali in those Penn photos reminded me of Philippe Halsman and his "Jump" work. Reading his "Sight and Insight" book was really helpful to me to understand ways to engage with people when photographing them. Halsman episode soon?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Pleased to hear you enjoyed it Ian, and thanks for commenting. It's always helpful to see these things in context, and yes the way the greats were open to experimentation and drawing ideas from arenas outside of photography is a good reminder to us all. Of course these days, things like corner portraits seem 'old hat'. Halsman is a good suggestion! IIRC I saw his Dali prints either at the Dali museum in St Petersburg, Florida, or the Dail gallery in Paris - my gut tells me it was in FL. Either way, it's a crazy photo!

[@Harlequin565]

@@ThePhotographicEye the story behind Dali atomicus is available online but the long version in his book is extraordinary. Good luck with your channel.

[@qnetx]

Wonderful look at Penn. Another interesting character to review would be Helmut Newton.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you're enjoying the channel. I'd love to look at Helmut Newton sometime.

[@marblehead1954]

Thank you, well done. Perhaps Gordon Parks some day....

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hope so!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

If Irving Penn had ever done a session with Lauren Bacall, he would indeed have put Baby in a corner. Thanks, I'll see myself out.

[@MunchyToy]

Another enjoyable and informative video, but how did the rather bizarre Howzit, Howzit greeting come about?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoy them - Howzit is a South African slang term for hello (though I'm the only person who says it twice like that - quite why I do, I have no idea :D)

[@mamiyapress]

I have subscribed.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you :D

[@marcotonelliphotography]

i love your videos. Do you know which focal length Irving Penn used? I mostly shoot at 85mm but I have the feeling that the impact portraits I see are mostly shot with a wider focal length.

[@Just-a-bystander]

The idea that the corner would encourage a celebrity to drop their guard sounds a bit too contrived. I feel when so much is striped away the great creativeness of both those in front of the lens and the photographer behind the lens are what is left. They both had to become large and fill the void, one to display great size of personality and the other to recognize and capture what was being displayed. My personal opinion is that ability to encourage or challenge the sitter to become a greater version of themselves in front of the lens and then to see and capture that magic on display, is what makes Irving Penn one of my favourite great photographers.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Gary. Thanks for the comment and sharing your thoughts. You are right, and Penn also mentioned this, that the set acted as an amplifier for the personality of the sitter. It's probably also worth bearing in mind that while to modern eyes, this set isn't anything too radical. However when compared with what was 'expected' at the time, it must have been surprising to the people to whom this was their first ever experience of this, and utterly different to what they were no doubt used to. Putting them off their stride somewhat. Something else to take into consideration about the set, is that at the time Penn was reasonably new to photography. So to create a playing field in his favour would have been helpful. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.

[@earlrogersjr3026]

I remember looking at a photograph of a cigarette but that urban Pantaya picture of I can’t tell you how many times I looked at that image trying to figure out what did he see in it that I was missing.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I get that too sometimes. That's the way it goes with art I guess..

[@nathanb4348]

Have you heard of Nan Goldin? She's a great photographer who sheds light on the LGBTQ community in America and abroad during the 70s, 80s, 90s

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Yes, I have heard of her. Not quite my cup of tea personally, but she will feature here as it's a celebration of photography of a whole, not just my personal favourites :D Thanks for your comment.

[@ratgirl13]

I like his corner portraits, I’m thinking he placed people in that corner like someone placing a bug under a microscope, so that he could see them, and they wouldn’t have anyplace to hide, except in themselves but ultimately reveal themselves to him (and us) and some of his subjects realized what he was doing and didn’t like it?

[@canturgan]

Penn was heavily influenced by Peruvian photographer Martin Chambi. He even photographed portraits in Chambi's studio in Cuzco, Peru.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Yes, I very much like Penn's work from that period. In a later episode I'm hoping to feature it. Thanks for pointing out the connection.

[@Batteristafoto]

Hi there. Just a question...Do you need any special permission to show these shots in your video?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi. The use of the images falls under 'Fair Use' which is a section of copyright: _"In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner."_ fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/what-is-fair-use/ Hope that helps you.

[@Batteristafoto]

@@ThePhotographicEye Yes helped a lot! Thank you kindly and I am really enjoying your channel. Hope you can drop by and have a look at some of my videos! Many greetings from South America! All the best

[@fkemp74]

I got this for art and it sucks!

[@remocosentino4825]

They may be your favorites but it's not even a half a loaf of Penn's work, it's not even a quarter of a loaf.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

A video covering Penn's entire career would be feature film length. Felt this was a good way to introduce him to people who aren't aware of his photography.

[@photographer-at-large9795]

you speak as though you were a fly on the wall

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Buzz buzz! If only we all could have had a chance to watch these sessions.