Chris Dodkin
West Coast Correspondent
Arthur Grace’s archive from his 40-year career as a photojournalist includes images of Americans in everyday life as well as some memorable U.S. historical events, including the Boston school busing crisis, Olympic events and presidential campaigns.
For Grace, reflecting on those images now, “every one has meaning.”
America 101: Defining the U.S. through photography – CNN Photos - CNN.com Blogs
The first time he had a photograph of a news event published, in 1972, capturing history wasn’t on his mind. He had been taking pictures of “rocks or something” for a college assignment at the Charles River in Boston. Grace heard honking horns and saw someone run through the woods with a rope to rescue a dog that had fallen through the ice.
He turned his camera toward the action and decided he might as well get a picture of the rescue. His girlfriend of the time suggested he call the Boston Globe to see if they wanted to buy the photo. The newspaper did, as well as the Associated Press and United Press International wire services.
Even though he hadn’t studied photojournalism, he became interested in it after graduating from college. Similar to today, the photography industry was struggling. “People would say, ‘Pick up a video camera, still photography is dead,’” he said.
Despite the discouragement, Grace took a job as a stringer and soon after a staff photographer for the United Press International in 1973 and worked to make a good name for himself in the photo world.
Grace’s book is a tight edit of his portfolio, which he considers representative of what defines Americans.
The exhibition in Atlanta features a selection of photos Grace took while on assignment for Newsweek over a 15-month period. He followed the 1988 presidential race from its outset, with 17 candidates, to the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
He said each of the candidates surprised him in some way.
“In front they’re all alike in that they put on their campaign faces,” he said, though everyone has different personalities. Pat Robertson, for example, had a “campaign tic” of never letting his guard down. Robertson was always conscious of Grace, smiling and looking at the camera every time the photographer put the viewfinder to his face. It was impossible to get a candid shot.
Grace remembers shooting the busing and the race riots in Boston in the 1970s on daily assignments.
“It was intense and hairy at times,” he said “And you’re there with a camera in the middle of it.”
Grace worked for top newspapers and news magazines, such as Newsweek, when they were booming, but now that the publications are struggling to survive, he says it’s not encouraging.
“They’re unrecognizable from the time I was there,” he said. “They’re a shadow of the old forms of themselves.”
Grace does not work on assignment for any organizations, but he keeps personal projects going. And, despite the industry shift, he still shoots on film.
An exhibition featuring Grace's work opens at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta on September 15, titled “Choose Me: Arthur Grace’s Portraits of a Presidential Race,” displaying photographs from the 1988 presidential campaign. His book “America 101” - 101 photographs representing American life - also will be released this year.
– Lauren Russell, CNN
Further images from teh photographer can be found on his website: Arthur Grace Photography
For Grace, reflecting on those images now, “every one has meaning.”
America 101: Defining the U.S. through photography – CNN Photos - CNN.com Blogs
The first time he had a photograph of a news event published, in 1972, capturing history wasn’t on his mind. He had been taking pictures of “rocks or something” for a college assignment at the Charles River in Boston. Grace heard honking horns and saw someone run through the woods with a rope to rescue a dog that had fallen through the ice.
He turned his camera toward the action and decided he might as well get a picture of the rescue. His girlfriend of the time suggested he call the Boston Globe to see if they wanted to buy the photo. The newspaper did, as well as the Associated Press and United Press International wire services.
Even though he hadn’t studied photojournalism, he became interested in it after graduating from college. Similar to today, the photography industry was struggling. “People would say, ‘Pick up a video camera, still photography is dead,’” he said.
Despite the discouragement, Grace took a job as a stringer and soon after a staff photographer for the United Press International in 1973 and worked to make a good name for himself in the photo world.
Grace’s book is a tight edit of his portfolio, which he considers representative of what defines Americans.
The exhibition in Atlanta features a selection of photos Grace took while on assignment for Newsweek over a 15-month period. He followed the 1988 presidential race from its outset, with 17 candidates, to the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
He said each of the candidates surprised him in some way.
“In front they’re all alike in that they put on their campaign faces,” he said, though everyone has different personalities. Pat Robertson, for example, had a “campaign tic” of never letting his guard down. Robertson was always conscious of Grace, smiling and looking at the camera every time the photographer put the viewfinder to his face. It was impossible to get a candid shot.
Grace remembers shooting the busing and the race riots in Boston in the 1970s on daily assignments.
“It was intense and hairy at times,” he said “And you’re there with a camera in the middle of it.”
Grace worked for top newspapers and news magazines, such as Newsweek, when they were booming, but now that the publications are struggling to survive, he says it’s not encouraging.
“They’re unrecognizable from the time I was there,” he said. “They’re a shadow of the old forms of themselves.”
Grace does not work on assignment for any organizations, but he keeps personal projects going. And, despite the industry shift, he still shoots on film.
An exhibition featuring Grace's work opens at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta on September 15, titled “Choose Me: Arthur Grace’s Portraits of a Presidential Race,” displaying photographs from the 1988 presidential campaign. His book “America 101” - 101 photographs representing American life - also will be released this year.
– Lauren Russell, CNN
Further images from teh photographer can be found on his website: Arthur Grace Photography
