John Loengard
John Loengard
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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John Loengard is the full name of this renowned American photographer.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on April 27, 1934, John Loengard passed away on June 17, 2021. He lived a long life that spanned over eight decades.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Loengard was an American photographer, known for his work in portrait, landscape, and street photography.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in New York City, Loengard developed an interest in photography at an early age. He began taking pictures with a camera given to him by his father when he was just 12 years old. This sparked a lifelong passion for capturing the world around him through the lens of a camera.
Major Accomplishments
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Loengard's career as a photographer spanned over six decades, during which he worked on numerous assignments for top publications such as Life Magazine and The New York Times. He was also commissioned by major corporations like American Express to create advertising campaigns.
One of Loengard's most notable accomplishments was his work in portrait photography. He had the privilege of photographing many famous individuals, including artists, writers, musicians, and politicians. His portraits are characterized by their sensitivity and insight into the subject's personality.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Loengard's most celebrated works include his photographs of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, which captured her elegance and poise. He also photographed prominent figures such as Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Loengard's work extends beyond individual portraits. He is also recognized for his landscape photography, which showcases the beauty of the American West. His photographs often convey a sense of tranquility and serenity.
Impact and Legacy
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John Loengard's impact on the world of photography cannot be overstated. Throughout his career, he pushed the boundaries of what was possible with the medium, experimenting with techniques that allowed him to capture unique perspectives and moods.
Loengard's legacy extends beyond his own work as well. He mentored several young photographers during his career, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation. His photographs continue to be celebrated for their timeless beauty and emotional resonance.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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John Loengard is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful comments on photography as an art form. He often spoke about the importance of understanding one's subject, whether it be a person, place, or object. His words offer guidance to aspiring photographers seeking to create meaningful and lasting images.
In addition, Loengard's own photographs continue to inspire and educate audiences around the world. His portraits and landscapes remain iconic representations of the people and places he encountered during his lifetime.
Overall, John Loengard was a photographer whose passion for capturing the human experience left an indelible mark on the world of photography.
Quotes by John Loengard
Often the tension that exists between the pictorial content of a photograph and its record of reality is the picture’s true beauty.
Teachers don’t work in the summer, and photographers don’t shoot in in the middle of the day.
In my head I think, There is a beautiful picture here and by God, short of murder, I’m going to get it. So shut up and hold still! But what I say is: You look wonderful. It’ll just take a minute. It’s marvelous. We’re doing something very special.
Perishability in a photograph is important in a picture. If a photograph looks perishable we say, “Gee, I’m glad I have that moment.”
A Ming vase can be well-designed and well-made and is beautiful for that reason alone. I don’t think this can be true for photography. Unless there is something a little incomplete and a little strange, it will simply look like a copy of something pretty. We won’t take an interest in it.
Perishability in a photograph is important in a picture. If a photograph looks perishable we say, "Gee, I'm glad I have that moment."
I was photographing the photographer Brassaï. He had very prominent eyes, like a frog's. As I focused my lens, he brought his hand up and pretended to focus his eye. It was a joke, but it added mystery to the picture. There's a sense of action in a very small world. Or with Allen Ginsberg there were people smoking cigarettes and in the smoke there's a sense of motion. It makes much out of very little.
In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed, but everybody complains about what looks posed in a photograph. Except, I've found that if I go very close in to the face, then the posed expression no longer exists. The face becomes a landscape of the lakes of the eyes and the hills of the nose and the valley of the cleft of the chin.
There are two kinds of photographs: mine and other people's. I never think of what I might do myself when I look at someone else's pictures... there is no subject in the world I have ever wanted to photograph. It's the picture, not the object, that is important to me.