Horace Bristol

Horace Bristol (November 16, 1908-1997) was a twentieth century American photographer, best known for his work in Life magazine. His photos appeared in Time, Fortune, Sunset, and National Geographic magazines.Cite web|url=http://www.horacebristol.com/about.html|title=Horace Bristol|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 14|publisher=The Horace and Masako Bristol Estate|year=2007|author=The Horace and Masako Bristol Estate|language=English]

Early life

Bristol was born and raised in Whittier, California, and attended the Art Center of Los Angeles, originally majoring in architecture.Cite web|url=http://www.stephencohengallery.com/artists/vintage/bristol.html|title=Horace Bristol|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 14|publisher=Stephen Cohen Gallery|year=2007|author=Stephen Cohen Gallery|language=English] In 1933, he moved to San Francisco to work in commercial photography, and met Ansel Adams, who lived near his studio. Through his friendship with Adams, he met Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, and other artists.

Photography career

In 1936, Bristol became a part of Life Magazine's founding photographers, and in 1938, began to document migrant farmers in California's central valley with John Steinbeck, recording the Great Depression, photographs that would later be called "The Grapes of Wrath" collection.

In 1941, Bristol was recruited to the U.S. Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, as one of five photographers under the command of Captain Edward J. Steichen, documenting World War II in places such as South Africa, and Japan.Cite web|url=http://www.sespe.com/jng/artists/bristol/hbbio.html|title=Horace Bristol (1908-1997)|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 14|publisher=John Nichols Gallery|year=2005|author=John Nichols Gallery|language=English] Bristol helped to document the invasions of North Africa, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.Cite web|url=http://www.thescreamonline.com/photo/photo2-4/bristol/bristol.html|title=Horace Bristol|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 14|publisher=Scream Online.com|year=2005|author= Stuart Vail|language=English]

Later life

Following his documentation of World War II, Bristol settled in Tokyo, Japan, selling his photographs to magazines in Europe and the United States, and becoming the Asian correspondent to Fortune Magazine. He published several books, and established the "East-West Photo Agency".

Following the death if his wife in 1956, Bristol burned all his negatives, and packed photographs into storage, and retired from photography. He went on to remarry, and have two children. He returned to the United States, and after 30 years, recovered the photographs from storage, to share with his family. Those photos would go on to be part of the J. Paul Getty Museum's Grapes of Wrath series.Cite web|url=http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/bristol/|title=The Grapes of Wrath: Horace Bristol's California Photographs|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 14|year=2003|author=J. Paul Getty Museum|language=English]

Bristol resided in Ojai, California, until his death in 1997 at the age of 89.

Bristol's work is displayed around the world, including the Getty Museum [Cite web|url=http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=17958|title=Horace Bristol|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=September 3|author=J. Paul Getty Museum|language=English] and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art [cite book | last = Conner | first = Ken | title = Horace Bristol | publisher = Chronicle Books | location = San Francisco | year = 1996 | isbn = 0811812618 ] . In 2006, a documentary was made, "The Compassionate Eye: Horace Bristol, Photojournalist", written and directed by David Rabinovitch.

Bibliography

*cite book | last = Bachner | first = Evan | coauthors = Horace Bristol (Photographer)| title = At Ease : Navy Men of World War II | publisher = Harry N Abrams | location = City | year = 2004 | isbn = 0810948052
*cite book | last = Bristol | first = Horace | title = Stories from Life | publisher = Georgia Museum of Art | location = Athens | year = 1995 | isbn = 0915977206
*cite book | last = Bristol | first = Horace | title = Korea: A photographic report on a country. | publisher = East-West at Toppan Press | location = | year = 1948| isbn=ASIN: B0007J0TSW
*cite book | last =Bristol | first =Horace | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Tokyo on a 5 Day Pass | publisher =Toppan Press | date =1951 | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | isbn=ASIN: B000VC6X2Q
*cite book | last =Bristol | first =Horace | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =BALI | publisher =Toppan Press | date =1949| location = | pages = | url = | doi = | isbn=ASIN: B000J3XM1C
*cite book | last =Bristol | first =Horace | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Horace Bristol: World War II, the camera remembers : Ventura County Museum of History & Art | publisher =The Museum | date =1993| location = | pages = | url = | doi = | isbn=ASIN: B0006F3WLS
*cite book | last =Bristol | first =Horace | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Horace Bristol: Eight images| publisher =Nash Editions| date =1993| location = | pages = | url = | doi = | isbn=ASIN: B0006PH3JU

References

External links

* [http://www.horacebristol.com/ Horace Bristol - Official site]
* [http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/bristol/ The Getty Museum]
* [http://omniverse.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_archive.html#113327301961854914 The story of Bristol's most famous photo]
* [http://www.robertmillergallery.com/artists/all_artists/bristol/bristol.html Robert Miller Gallery]
*imdb title|0926059|The Compassionate Eye:|Horace Bristol, Photojournalist