Gordon Parks Self-Portrait (1941) in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

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Gordon Parks Self-Portrait (1941) in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Gordon Parks Self-Portrait (1941) in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

“Parks made this self-portrait in Chicago soon after leaving his job as a railroad porter to work as a photographer. Alert to objects that helped describe a person’s character, profession, and values, Parks positioned himself next to his Graflex Speed Graphic camera, proudly proclaiming his new calling. . . At the time of this photograph, he supported himself and his young family by taking pictures of African-American intellectuals, artists, and socialites who congregated at Chicago’s vibrant South Side Community Art Center, dubbed the incubator of the Chicago Black Renaissance.

“In 1942 he moved to Washington, DC, where he worked as a photographer for various federal agencies, including the Farm Security Administration (FSA) and the Office of War Information (OWI). He then worked for Standard Oil Company as well as ‘Vogue,’ ‘Glamour,’ ‘Ebony,’ and other magazines. In 1949, ‘Life’ magazine hired Parks as the first African American photographer on the staff. He held this position there until 1972.

“Gordon Parks developed a powerful style that drew on his sophisticated melding of documentary, portrait, and fashion photography. His commanding portraits of people in their natural environments humanize them, inspire empathy, and enable us to see beyond racial and cultural stereotypes.” [Accompanying text]

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Taken on: August 13, 2024
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Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, 6.9mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Lens: iPhone 14 Pro back triple camera 6.86mm f/1.78
Aperture: f/1.8
Exposure Time: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Focal Length: 6.9mm
ISO: 640
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Adobe Photoshop Express Windows 10 (Windows)
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