8
B+WNow one of the oldest
surviving members of
Magnum, Elliott Erwitt, at
the age of 86 is still working
hard and winning yet more
awards. Elizabeth Roberts
talks to this extraordinary man
about his life work and wit.
MY SHELTER,
MY HOME
FEATURE
All images © Elliott Erwitt
T
his spring the legendary
Magnum photographer Elliott
Erwitt will receive the
Outstanding Contribution to
Photography award from Sony
World Photography. This
prestigious award (previously called
Lifetime Achievement) has had some
memorable recipients – Mary Ellen Mark
(2014), William Eggleston (2013) and
William Klein (2012) to name but a few.
For anyone who has the least interest in
photography, Erwitt’s pictures will be
familiar – his classic image of Khrushchev
and Nixon in ‘the kitchen debate’, his deeply
moving shot of Jacqueline Kennedy at her
husband’s funeral, the cast of the Misfits- and, of course, his wonderfully amusing
and witty images of dogs.
But Erwitt’s work goes far beyond these
well known images – from photojournalism
to commercial work, his abilities across many
photographic genres is exceptional. His
seemingly effortless photography is the result
of expert skill and a unique and unerring eye.
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