Horace Bristol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Horace Bristol (November 16, 1908-1997) was a twentieth century American photographer, best known for his work in Life magazine. His photos appeared in Time, Fortune, Sunset, and National Geographic magazines.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Bristol was born and raised in Whittier, California, and attended the Art Center of Los Angeles, originally majoring in architecture.[3] In 1933, he moved to San Francisco to work in commercial photography, and met Ansel Adams, who lived near his studio. Through his friendship with Adams, he met Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, and other artists.

[edit] Photography career

In 1936, Bristol became a part of Life Magazine's founding photographers, and in 1938, began to document migrant farmers in California's central valley with John Steinbeck, recording the Great Depression, photographs that would later be called "The Grapes of Wrath" collection.[3][2][4]

In 1941, Bristol was recruited to the U.S. Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, as one of five photographers under the command of Captain Edward J. Steichen, documenting World War II in places such as South Africa, and Japan.[4] Bristol helped to document the invasions of North Africa, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.[1][2]

[edit] Later life

Following his documentation of World War II, Bristol settled in Tokyo, Japan, selling his photographs to magazines in Europe and the United States, and becoming the Asian correspondent to Fortune Magazine.[4][1] He published several books, and established the East-West Photo Agency.[2]

Following the death if his wife in 1956, Bristol burned all his negatives, and packed photographs into storage, and retired from photography. He went on to remarry, and have two children. He returned to the United States, and after 30 years, recovered the photographs from storage, to share with his family.[2] Those photos would go on to be part of the Getty Museum's Grapes of Wrath series.[5][2]

Bristol resided in Ojai, California, until his death in 1997 at the age of 89.[1]

Bristol's work is displayed around the world, including the Getty Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.[6] In 2006, a documentary was made, The Compassionate Eye: Horace Bristol, Photojournalist, written and directed by David Rabinovitch.

[edit] Bibliography

  • Bachner, Evan; Horace Bristol (Photographer) (2004). At Ease : Navy Men of World War II. City: Harry N Abrams. ISBN 0810948052. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1995). Stories from Life. Athens: Georgia Museum of Art. ISBN 0915977206. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1948). Korea: A photographic report on a country.. East-West at Toppan Press. ISBN ASIN: B0007J0TSW. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1951). Tokyo on a 5 Day Pass. Toppan Press. ISBN ASIN: B000VC6X2Q. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1949). BALI. Toppan Press. ISBN ASIN: B000J3XM1C. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1993). Horace Bristol: World War II, the camera remembers : Ventura County Museum of History & Art. The Museum. ISBN ASIN: B0006F3WLS. 
  • Bristol, Horace (1993). Horace Bristol: Eight images. Nash Editions. ISBN ASIN: B0006PH3JU. 

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Stuart Vail (2005). Horace Bristol (English). Scream Online.com. Retrieved on September 14, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f The Horace and Masako Bristol Estate (2007). Horace Bristol (English). The Horace and Masako Bristol Estate. Retrieved on September 14, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Stephen Cohen Gallery (2007). Horace Bristol (English). Stephen Cohen Gallery. Retrieved on September 14, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c John Nichols Gallery (2005). Horace Bristol (1908-1997) (English). John Nichols Gallery. Retrieved on September 14, 2007.
  5. ^ The Getty Museum (2003). The Grapes of Wrath: Horace Bristol's California Photographs (English). The Getty Museum. Retrieved on September 14, 2007.
  6. ^ Conner, Ken (1996). Horace Bristol. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811812618. 

[edit] External links