Brian Lanker, Katherine Dunham, from the book I Dream A World
The NPPA has let us all know that Brian Lanker, a quintessential newspaper photojournalist (I always liked this shot), died suddenly yesterday evening, after learning only a few days ago that he had a fatal cancer.
Lanker won the Pulitzer Prize in the same year that Nick Ut won for his world famous picture of the so-called "napalm girl"—Brian's set was a sort of bookend, in that it showed a woman giving birth by the then-new Lamaze method of childbirth.
Improbably—he hadn't known the couple before photographing them for the story—the woman later became his wife, and the baby whose delivery he photographed his stepdaughter.
He is perhaps best known for his book I Dream a World : Portraits of Black Women who Changed America
Our thoughts and condolences to all his friends, and especially to the Lanker family.
Mike
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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.
What a wonderful image captured by a very talented photographer. The photograph of Katherine Durham is perfect in composition, focus both background and subject. A great lost to his family and the photographic community.
Posted by: g carvajal | Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 01:12 AM
I saw Lanker's exhibit in Eugene -- it was magnificant. All portraits were about 30 x 30 and masterfly done. The subjects brought tears to my eyes. I had an opportunity to meet him, unfoutunateliy I declined.
Posted by: Jim Ullrich | Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 03:37 AM
I wonder if the Katherine Durham in the Lanker photo might possibly be Katherine Dunham: a world famous dancer from the 1930's on?
I'm just sayin'
Posted by: Lawrence Siegel | Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 11:33 AM
"I wonder if the Katherine Durham in the Lanker photo might possibly be Katherine Dunham: a world famous dancer from the 1930's on? I'm just sayin'"
Sorry, I mistyped. I'm getting worse and worse at proofreading my own stuff all the time.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 12:02 PM
"died suddenly yesterday evening, after learning only a few days ago that he had a fatal cancer"
Well that really puts everything else in perspective, to get that little notice is utterly horrendous, makes me feel even more that anything I want or need to do, do it NOW.
Posted by: mark lacey | Tuesday, 15 March 2011 at 08:11 PM