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I have been a photographer over 30 years and thoroughly enjoy it. My goal is to continuously learn and experiment to add a different perspective to my images.
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Gordon Parks
Introduction: I was aware of Gordon Park because of his movies, The Learning Tree, Shaft, and Shaft’s Big Score, but not so much with his photographic background and his influence on so many. I find it ironic that we had so much in common. When younger, 15 or so, my interest in photography began with flashcube camera. I remember my first opportunity to photograph a young woman in her swimsuit, she was probably only 18 at the time. I knew very little about lighting and soon became aware the power of her lamp on the table was more powerful than my cube flash and just her legs were showing in the photo, took me nearly 2 weeks to confess. That was the beginning of my taking photography serious. Started reading materials and soon became interested in black and white and after obtaining my first true 35mm camera, a Pentax, I was soon on my way. Joined military in 1968 and while stationed in Turkey, took lots of pictures. Next tour in Okinawa, provided me an opportunity to learn from the base photographer and became interested in shooting slides and processing. After my return to the Illuminating company, I introduced myself to the in-house darkroom specialist, Master’s Degree from RIT, and he allowed me to observe him at his work. When he decided to retire, I was given the job. Had a large enlarger that used 10x10” negatives and also I could convert it to a copy camera which allowed me to produce images up to 8’ on 40” wide paper. My next chance was at NASA started in black and white department but later progressed to processing all film from 1985 to 1997 before digital imaging eliminated the job. I am re-energized after this research to improve on my photography. The same problems of racism have also hindered me from advancing because I had no degree they felt that I could work for less. I too loved to shoot landscapes, models, weddings, parties and whatever came my way. I thoroughly enjoyed the research as it came to show me how little progress has been made in race relations and social issues. Things seem to be getting worse instead of better. This research reflected the numerous times Gordon would approach agencies unannounced and impressed them with his work which allowed him opportunities to have his work published and appreciated. His primary goal was to expose the injustices around the world concerning the poor and less fortunate. His choice of weapons were his camera and the pen, which later became the title of one his autobiographies. One of my favorite quotes by Gordon was “The important thing is not so much what you suffered – or didn’t suffer – but how you put that learning to use”.
History:
Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on November 20, 1912 and died of cancer on March 7, 2006 at the age of 93. His father was Andrew Jackson Parks a dirt farmer his mother Sarah Ross a maid. Gordon was considered a creative genius as he excelled in many exploits; photographer, filmmaker, author, and composer. The youngest of fifteen children, Gordon rose from a childhood of poverty in a segregated society and used his talents to better the world around him. When his mother died in 1928, he was only 15 years old.. The family was bound by Sarah’s strong conviction that dignity and hard work could overcome the bigotry they faced. His mother’s final request was to send him north to Minnesota to live with his sister, and before the flowers on her grave wilted, his father put him on a train. “Just follow your mother’s teachings and you will be alright” was his father’s departing words. Shortly after his move, his brother-in-law evicted him and he was homeless in the 30 below temperatures and with no job. For nearly a week he spent his nights riding the trolley line from St. Paul to Minneapolis and back again. He barely survived by playing piano in a brothel and washing dishes at a dingy restaurant. Parks attended a segregated elementary school and in high school he attended was integrated they maintained discriminatory policies toward black students. They could not attend any social functions nor compete in sports. He quit high school after the Great Depression set in.
While working as a waiter on the North Coast Limited, a transcontinental train that ran between St. Paul and Chicago and Seattle. In a magazine left on the train he found pictures taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration, FSA set up by President Roosevelt to aid submarginal farmers. These images depicted “stark, tragic images of human beings caught up in the confusion of poverty. He began to read more about photography and to visit museums, to study the work of others. Soon he bought his first camera: a $7.50 Voightlender Brilliant, a 35mm. The camera was to become his weapon against poverty and racism. Parks’s first photographs immediately attracted the attention of the Eastman Kodak Company which sponsored a showing of Park’s pictures in the company show windows.
While still in Minnesota Park’s approached Frank Murphy, who owned a women’s store in St. Paul to photograph their fashions. When asked if he could, he lied. Even though he had no samples of his work, his wife decided to give him a chance. When she asked him how many models he wanted, he said three models and six outfits. The following evening he arrived with lights and a highly sophisticated camera that he borrowed, and nervously went to work. Not only was Madeline and her husband impressed, but so was Gordon, until after developing the film, all but one exposure was double-exposed. Owing honesty, two mornings later when the owners arrived a large print of the one good exposure stood in front of the store on an easel. She was really excited and invited him in to view the others. After confessing, she asked him would all of the others would have been as good, he stated “that’s probably the worst”. She gave him another chance and the pictures were so impressive that Joe Louis’s wife, Marva Louis urged him to move to Chicago, where he photographed fashions and did portraits for both black and white clients. In Chicago he documented the devastating effects of poverty. When Parks won a Julius Rosenwald Fellowship in 1941, the first ever awarded in photography, he arranged for an apprenticeship at the FSA in Washington, DC. Parks and his family were not prepared for the racism encountered upon their arrival. Roy Emerson Stryker, his supervisor suggested with Ella Watson, an African Ameerican cleaning woman who worked in the building. Parks took a series of photos of Watson and her family. The most famous image was of her standing in front of an American flag with a mop in one hand and a broom in the other. Later, titled “ American Gothic” which referenced Grant Wood’s 1930 painting of the same name.
This was Parks’s first official FSA photo and became one of photography’s iconic images. Parks was in an angry mood when he asked the woman to pose, having earlier been refused service at a clothing store, a movie theater and a restaurant.
He was the first African American photographer to work for Life and Vogue magazines and the first to work for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration.
Gordon’s son, Gordon Parks Jr, was also a dedicated photographer, but decided on changing his name to Gordon Rogers, because his accomplishments have been mistakenly credited to his father. When Gordon was making the Learning Tree, Gordon Jr .worked as a cameraman and in 1972 he directed Superfly 1972and other films during the blaxploitation films of the early 70’s. In 1979 tragedy struck as he had just landed an independent production company, died in a plane crash in an aborted takeoff on the runway of the Nairobi Airport. Even in death, reports on radio and newspaper accounts had mistakenly reported that it was Gordon Sr., and bibliographical accounts still often confuse the two men
In 1933 when invited to join an orchestra .Parks moved back to Harlem, yet the group disbanded almost immediately and once again was without a job. After making a few deliveries for a dope dealer, he joined the Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC) planting trees and clearing camping grounds and beaches until 1934. Soon Parks married Sally Alvis and moved back to Minneapolis and had three children, Gordon Parks Jr. Toni, and David.
Gordon’s book “Half Past Autumn” is a retrospective compilation of his life’s work starting with the early years and other photographs of Harlem Gangs, Fashion and crime. In 1943 southern senators were upset with the numerous files crammed with America’s poor and dispossessed amounted in the government’s indictment of itself and was soon abolished and absorbed into the Office of War Information. In the second year of World War II, unrest was building in black military quarters when distinguished leader Colonel Benjamin O. Davis was charged with the black 99th Pursuit Squadron where they were trained and sent overseas. Then later transferred to Selfridge Field near Detroit, Michigan. Soon Gordon was assigned as war correspondent. His duties was to cover the group in training and during flights. After a quick breakfast, at 6:00, was soon airborne with young black fighters getting ready for a fight with Adolph Hitler’s Lultwaffle.
Fashion
In 1944 while continuing to work for the Office of War information, he decided to take a cheap room at the YMCA and began to look for work. He abruptly entered office of Harper’s Bazaar, but was told that being a Hearst organization, forbid Negroes from being hired. Soon afterwards, Roy Striker advised him to go to Vogue. He was selected to photograph a collection of the season’s finest evening gowns. Five years later he continued to appear in Vogue.
In 1948 after several good years at Vogue, his courage led him to Life magazine and after viewing his work, asked him what he would like to do, he replied, fashion and gang wars up in Harlem. While searching for a way to gain access to a gang, he stumbled on Red Jackson, a 16 year old Harlem gang leader. When he mentioned that he want to photograph his gang. Red asked him “why in the hell would I want a Life magazine photographer following him around”. He offered as a suggestion to drive him around in his Buick which convinced Red to allow him to photograph his gang. Three months later when preparing his essay for publication in Life Magazine. He objected to the cover that they chose. It was of a smoking gun in Red’s hand and it could have sent him to prison. He reclaimed the negative and cut it into pieces because of the trust grown between them. At times Gordon suggested that there was a better way of life for him. But Red was too caught up in the Harlem gang life. Forty years later while at Penn Station they once again met and Red went on for an hour rehashing the fearful days of his youth. Upon parting, Red suggested they could go back up there and save those kids in Harlem.
Fashion led him once again to Paris during the 50’s, where his photos were admired of the poor, and the different scenery he captured.
Gordon published 14 books: Flash Photography, Camera Portraits, The Learning Tree, A Choice of Weapons, A Poet and his Camera, Born Black, Whispers of Intimate things, In Love, Moments without Proper Names, Flavio, To Smile in Autumn, Shannon, Voices in the Mirror, Arias in Silence.
From the Arias in Silence is a compilation of his later works which combined his artistry with poetry, water color and his addition of digital images. Each image expressed the need for him to accept life gracefully – without trembling at the inevitability of his departure.
SUMMATION: Following my research, I found it interesting that he died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 93 which gives me strength and I will attempt to read whatever I can get my hands on. I watched The Learning Tree, Shaft and read the book, Half past Autumn. I hope my representation of my attempt to replicate his works is not lacking the interpretation of his volume of photographs. Thanks for your attention and hopefully I shared items that were of interest.
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