Philippe Halsman

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Sydney Townend Philippe Halsman To be named one of the top photographers of the 20th Century is a substantial credit on its own, but to do so with no formal training or background in the art is remarkable, yet accomplished by Philippe Halsman. It all started at the young age of fifteen, when Philippe would photograph friends and family with his father’s 9x12-cm view camera, developing the glass plate “miracles” in the family’s bathroom sink. Even in these early years, using rudimentary equipment, it was evident Halsman had a gift and would leave a definitive mark on the photographic industry. With his ability to capture the true spirit of the subject and his advanced technical abilities, his career was destined to be nothing short of successful (B. Johnson 180). The technical approach of Halsman evolved from his …show more content…

After his sessions for commissioned work were completed, he would ask if his subjects would be willing to participate in a personal project. Once they agreed, his request was simple - jump in the air. With minimal direction, aside from the request for them to jump, Halsman would capture each subject as they leapt into the air. One observation Halsman made was that each participant jumped differently, whether it be arm positions, leg positions, or facial expressions, the variations added to the complexity and diversity of each image (Terra 6). This project included many famous or celebrity subjects, including the Vice-President of the United States (Richard Nixon), Mike Wallace, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe and myriad of other “jumpers.” Halsman felt that the subject switched their focus from posing for the portrait to the act of jumping, and with the action their “mask falls, so that the real person appears (Smith).” All the mid-air images were published in the “Philippe Halsman Jump Book” in

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