Gordon Parks was a serious man. His claim to fame as a photographer rests on the searing photo-essays that he produced for Life magazine on issues such as poverty and racial justice. But he had a lighter side, and he revealed it, from time to time, to Life's readers.
Today on Life's website, I write about "Wow, Quel Babes!", one of the most trivial stories that you can possibly imagine. It's also one of the most fun. Really. You can read what I have to say about it (and see many more of Parks' photos), here. Enjoy!
Life, 7 January 1952, pp. 70-71. [Click on the image to see a larger version.]
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John, it seems one of the most salient aspects of this article is the effect it had on Parks himself, as you mention. To me, the quote under the last photograph stands out to illustrate that
"In the States" says one "we were just some more Americans, but here we're different, and it's a nice feeling."
It vibrates with the tension of how the students or Parks might have found experiences to be different for each other at home or abroad. For Parks that difference was no longer manifested as threatening as it was back home in the States where he could never be as invisible as those students. Instead his thoughts became as peaceful as snowflakes. What a lovely image and experience for him.
Posted by: Ed | 30 January 2015 at 11:41 AM