James Dean - a portrait..

New York, Delilah Books, 1982. 4°, 143 S., zahlr. s/w-Abbildungen, Broschur, Rücken m. kleinen Fehstellen, , min. eselohrig, min. fleckig. Mit Widmung des Photographen auf Deckel verso. Text: engl.- Roy Schatt (1909-2002)was a dedicated photographer for 60 years, who captured legendary individuals and historic moments. Utilizing his 'method' approach and use of only natural light, Roy was committed to a pure form of photography. He developed all his photographs in his 33rd Street darkroom, with a focus on the balance of light. His inspiration from the photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, provided him with a skilled and experienced understanding of the camera as a means to achieve much more than 'documentation', but a meaningful art form translated into a photograph. His study of art, theatre, writing and history were the building blocks of his own photographic art. Below is a small review of the Roy Schatt Estate archive of photographs.Schatt developed a remarkable friendship with James Dean. As a fellow actor and with a great interest in photography, Dean formed a special bond with Schatt and wanted to learn art from him. About the beginning of their relationship, Schatt states "He was a squinty schlump of a person all bent over. Then Dean suddenly got up and this ugly person became a dream, an Adonis who started to dance around the room. It was a transition I couldn't believe. (…) During our first meeting Jim asked me if I would shoot him, not as a regular session, but to document his activities. It soon developed that he wanted to shoot me as well, so we began classes." 010