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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

William A. Garnett

Photography Appreciation 

William A. Garnett, a prominent American landscape photographer, gained acclaim for his distinctive aerial photography, transforming natural landscapes like forests, sand dunes, mountains, canyons, agricultural scenes, and suburban grids into captivating artistic expressions.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 27, 1916, Garnett relocated with his family to Pasadena, California. Following high school, he pursued a year of studies at the Art Center School in Los Angeles and subsequently embarked on a career as an independent commercial photographer and graphic designer in 1938.

In 1940, Garnett joined the Pasadena Police Department as a photographer and later worked briefly for Lockheed aircraft company before being drafted into the U.S. Army.

Upon completing his military service in 1945, Garnett acquired a passion for flying. By 1949, he purchased his first plane, marking the beginning of his aerial photography endeavors. His captivating work garnered attention, earning him the first of three Guggenheim fellowships in 1953. The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, hosted his inaugural solo exhibition in 1955.

Equipping himself with a Cessna 170B single-engine plane, Garnett made modifications to optimize it for photography. He conducted experiments with various camera formats and films to refine his craft.

Garnett's photography found a place in esteemed publications like Fortune, Life, Reader's Digest, and The New York Times Magazine, as well as in art and text books, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend artistic vision with the portrayal of diverse landscapes.


Dry Wash With Alluvium, Death Valley, California (1957)

Bryce Canyon, Utah (1966)

After Combine Harvest, Montezuma Hills, California (1964)

Foundations and Slabs, Lakewood, California (1950)


Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/09/obituaries/09garnett.html

https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/william-garnett-view-above

https://artblart.com/tag/william-a-garnett-aerial-photography/

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