Gordon Parks, 1912 - 2006

Before he became known as a film director, writer and musician, Gordon Parks worked as an acclaimed photographer for Life magazine. An incredibly versatile talent, Parks was a photographer who did not settle into one type of photographic work. A child of poverty, his earliest interest in photography was as a tool to fight social injustice. However, in addition to documentary work, he also excelled in fashion, portrait and fine art photography.

Kodak and the Photo District News have compiled an extensive website that highlights the music, poetry and photography of Gordon Parks. The photo gallery includes commentary on many of his well known images, plus video clips in which Parks discusses the photos--including the split-second of recognition and reaction that enabled him to capture the candid portrait (above) of actress Ingrid Bergman.

http://www.pdngallery.com/legends/parks/