Eugene smith photography a walk
Minamata w eugene smith.
The First Gates
Recent events brought to mind a photograph by W. Eugene Smith (1918-1978), one of the greatest photojournalists of all time. Forgetful of personal risk, Smith wedded “news” photographs to a powerful aesthetic sensibility, creating a body of unforgettable work.
Smith was an idealist.
Eugene smith photography a walk
During WWII, he aimed for nothing less than showing the horrors of war so vividly that people would recoil from the prospect in the future. As a Life Magazine photographer, he landed with marines during 13 Pacific island invasions, including the battles of Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
His almost legendary luck deserted him on Okinawa, when he was hit in the face and hand by mortar fragments.
“I forgot to duck but I got a wonderful shot of those who did,” he said. “My policy of standing up when the others are down finally caught up with me.”
Two years and 30 operations later he was still not sure he’d be able to use a c