Irving-Penn, 1974 , New York, Cigarette No.37
Penn began his career taking photographs for the covers of American Vogue in 1943 and became one of the most influential photographers of the post-war period. Penn usually worked in the studio environment (as would be adopted by Robert Mapplethorpe later) and has often used natural light. His attention to the full range of tones and textures possible in black and white photography led him to master rare and difficult techniques. The depth, density and luminosity of his blacks give his images an unparalleled range of tone and texture. Here are Penn’s later photographs of cigarette butts, litter, shot in just the same way as his models and fashion photographs.
Camel pack 1975, New York
Cigarette No. 86, New York, 1972
