Mikaela - Elliot Erwitt

Elliot Erwitt

Elliot Erwitt was born in 1928 in Paris, France but he grew up in Milan and then moved to Hollywood, California with his family in 1939. He worked in a commercial darkroom and then began experimenting with photography at Los Angeles City College. He then moved to New York and took film classes at the New School for Social Research. He traveled France and Italy 1949-51 before being drafted to the army and taking pictures there as well. He worked for the Standard Oil Company for awhile creating a photographic library for them. In 1953, he became a freelance photographer with Magnum and worked for illustrated magazines such as Collier's, LIFE, Look, and Holiday. In the 70s, he turned to film and produced many documentaries and in the 80s, he produced eighteen comedies for HBO. He has project too. One called "Between the Sexes" where he looks at the gender roles of males and females around the world. One is called "Dog Dogs" and it is dogs. He also has a "Handbook" and the work features hands. He is known for his irony.

I particularly like his worked because it is very visually striking, sometimes in a serious way and sometimes in a funny way. It also makes you think or do a double take at what you are looking at. The photography is so simple but can also be very meaningful.