The Relay ...1957
In my last blog entry I talked of meeting my husband in NY city in 1957. He had just left "LIFE" magazine and was starting his own free lance commercial photography business.
I have often wondered what would have happened to Dick's career (and our life together) had he stayed with "LIFE". The picture that you see here is titled "The Relay" and it was one that he took on assignment for "TIME" magazine. It was shot in Madison Square Garden in late 1956 and won first prize for the category in the 1957 issue of Photography Annual.
This should have been the start of an illustrious career for Dick but it was cut short by sickness. Photography was an entirely different business then. For him it meant toting heavy strobe lights and other equipment, working odd hours and often traveling great distances … all things not conducive to a very brittle Type 1 diabetic. He bravely accepted his fate but his dream was gone and he died in 1999 at the too-young age of 59.
My daughter and son-in-law have a small gallery of Dick's photos in their home in NY. They are photos that he had printed and mounted himself and "The Relay" is among them.
posted by Goldendaze-Ginnie at 4:00 PM
5 Comments:
It's a stunner. He was a craftsman. I wonder how much time this took in the darkroom.
It is a great photo Ginnie. You’re so right! Fifty-nine is way too young!
Splendid shot. We can't help but wonder "what if"? He was way too young and too talented to have left so early. It is amazing the his illness didn't make him bitter.
Interesting photo! Must have been very difficult for him to have health issues upend his professional expectations. My husband had his future altered as a young man before I knew him. I think it takes courage to adjust, adapt and move forward in other directions. Sometimes the person doing so doesn’t always give themselves credit for their subsequent accomplishments to the degree they deserve.
Ah, yes, the great "What IF's" of the world...
That he had great talent is not in question - but like so many, it was cut short. On the other hand, his visual abilities were passed on to his son, so there is that.
And, slightly off topic, I realize the great convenience we have with digital photography - and we can wonder another 'what if' he had had that convenience - but there is such a feeling of accomplishment in physically setting up for a shot and then the MAGIC in the dark room... watching as that image comes thru... it was a magic true photographers always felt that is missing -I feel- on the computer.
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