Honoring Gordon Parks

On this day in 1912, photographer Gordon Parks was born in Fort Scott, KS. To say he was a Renaissance Man would be an understatement. In addition to being a photographer, he was also a musician, composer, writer, painter, and film director. He is best known for his documentary work, created during his time working for the Farm Security Administration, and for Life magazine.

Attending a segregated schools, he had little chance of attending college. A teacher telling him that to go would be a waste of time. Leaving home at the age of 15, he was entirely on his own. Working odd jobs, including managing a brothel, it was while working as a waiter in a railroad dinning car he discovered the portfolios of photographers in picture magazines and decided to become a photographer.

 

American Gothic, Washington, DC

“At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure, and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it.”

 

To learn more about the life and work of this legendary photographer, check out the website of the Gordon Parks Foundation, here, and the Gordon Parks Museum here.