who knows Jack Leigh? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/08/2005 08:11:29 AM · #1

or that he was dead?

well, first, who he was. he was the type of photographer that most of us dream of being. he decided in college to be a documentary photographer, and that's all he did for over 30 years. he didn't do studio work or event work. he spent his time travelling and photographing the people he met and the things he saw. he lived his passion. even though he travelled and worked all over the world, he always came home to the south, and the rural southern towns, coastlands, swamps, and farms provided him the inspirations for his strongest works.

he became 'famous' because he was commissioned to take a picture for a book cover that actually wound up being a best-seller that went on to become a critically acclaimed movie: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. it is said that the image made the book that made the movie that made everyone want to go to savannah. that may be a bit over the top, but, they had to move the statuette he photographed out of the cemetery and into a museum because of all the people walking over the neighboring graves!

he started out shooting 35mm, then later started using medium format cameras. he never shot anything but kodak tri-x.

one thing that becomes immediately apparent when looking through his images is the difference between taking images that people respond to and taking images that dpc voters respond to (that is to say, i don't think he would have fared well in the challenges...). but, if i had to choose which type of images i would rather shoot, well, that almost goes without saying.

another interesting aspect to his candids is just how personal they are. you can tell they are candids, but you can also tell that the subjects don't really seem to mind that he was taking their picture. i read in some of his notes that basically, he spent days, months, even years, cultivating relationships with people so that they trusted him and his work. he also made it a point whenever possible to take prints back to the people he photographed as a way of saying thanks for letting me become part of your life.

he died about a year ago, at age 55, of colon cancer, leaving behind 5 books and a catalog of over 50,000 images. unfortunately, his website is off-line now, and there are only a few online resources of his works. if you would like to see his images, you'll need to go to a library or book store. if you would like to read a little more about him, here are some links (keep in mind, the first two links are dead).

here is an excellent article about Basic Strategies in Reading Photographs that features some thumbs of his work, including the 'famous' cememtery shot. click here

edit: grammar/spelling

Message edited by author 2005-04-08 08:27:09.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

04/08/2005 09:02:12 AM · #2

I don't know Jack. Hmm... maybe I should rephrase that. Cool story, Skip, thanks for the links.

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

04/08/2005 09:34:26 AM · #3

I know a Jack but he's my dad, so I don't know your Jack :)

Thanks for the history lesson, I love the shots I can see, my type, candid and real :)

Deannda

lwkimages

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/08/2005 09:52:55 AM · #4

Good story, Skip. Jack Leigh appears to be someone who truly lived photography, putting his heart and soul into his work. Thanks for the links.

-len

nsbca7

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

04/08/2005 10:24:31 AM · #5

Originally posted by skiprow:

another interesting aspect to his candids is just how personal they are. you can tell they are candids, but you can also tell that the subjects don't really seem to mind that he was taking their picture. i read in some of his notes that basically, he spent days, months, even years, cultivating relationships with people so that they trusted him and his work. he also made it a point whenever possible to take prints back to the people he photographed as a way of saying thanks for letting me become part of your life.

An excellent philosophy. This is pretty much the way I work with people. I rarely use much of what I get from a first shoot. I go back and take the subject one of the best prints from the shoot and give it to them. From there on out there is a trust; a trust of the subject towards the photographer of how they perceive themselves. It also provides the photographer with a better understanding of the subject. With that trust and understanding comes my richest portraits.

Jach Leigh is pretty well known in Georgia. He was well represented in Atlanta and Savannah. I never got to meet him but I have seen much of his work in galleries.

Prof_Fate

04/08/2005 10:26:31 AM · #6

I know Jack Schitt. Does that count for anything?

04/08/2005 10:40:09 AM · #7

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I know Jack Schitt. Does that count for anything?

not unless he took images like this ;-)

(sorry, but you'll have to get find a copy of The Land I'm Bound To to see a better copy.)

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

04/08/2005 06:27:12 PM · #8

i'm bumping this for those that might have missed it this morning. i've been studying The Land I'm Bound To, jack leigh's last book, today, and am absolutely blown away be what this man did in his short life.

if you don't want to read the whole thread, here are some excellent links:
Basic Strategies in Reading Photographs
some images
images & bio

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

04/08/2005 08:09:43 PM · #9

Originally posted by skiprow:

Could this artical be about him?

movieman

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

04/08/2005 08:14:17 PM · #10

His website is still up, actually. At least it is right now.