Photographer of the Week

Photographer of the Week

     Arthur Elgort was born June 8th of 1940 in Brooklyn New York. In college he tried his hand as a painter although he quickly found thus art form to be very isolated and lonely. He then moved to photography which he quickly found he had a knack for. After he began as a photographer he quickly found his way to Vogue and in 1971 his work debited in Vogue British Magazine.

      He quickly found his unique style and soon became widely renowned. AS opposed to the uptight, staged look that the models had in most photography, Arthur adopted what is now known as a “snapshot style.” Elgort encouraged the models to be natural and relaxed during the photos which made for a picture that seems grounded and real. As opposed to a studio setting he would capture his photos in a “real world” setting such as city streets or homes. His unique style granted him high acclaim in the world of fashion and photography alike. Elgort was able to stray away from the typical style of fashion photography and make a name by being different.

      My favorite image of his is the one he took of the woman looking out of the car sunroof. I love this image because while it is staged it still somehow has a natural feel to it. The woman looking out of the sunroof has sparkly diamonds on her eyelids which contrasts the old abandoned house behind her. By mixing a natural street photography with photography that is staged it makes for a unique look and feel. 

     Due to his unique style, Elgort has gained a very high notoriety in the world of photography. He is earned the ability to photograph models from various countries and in many locations that not everyone would be able to do. Elgort is a prime example of how being different and sparking change can have a large impact in the world.

Sources: “Arthur Elgort.” Arthur Elgort, www.arthurelgort.com/contact.