Visions & Images: Garry Winogrand (1981)


Garry Winogrand (1928 – 1984, Tijuana, Mexico) was a street photographer known for his portrayal of America in the mid 20th century. He studied painting at City College of New York and photography at Columbia University in New York City in 1948. He also attended a photojournalism class taught by Alexey Brodovich at The New School for Social Research in New York City in 1951.
Winogrand was mostly influenced by Walker Evans and Robert Frank and their respective publications "American Photographs" and "The Americans". Known for his portrayal of American life in the early 1960s, many of his photographs depict the social issues of his time and the role of media in shaping attitudes. He roamed the streets of New York with his 35mm Leica camera rapidly taking photographs using a prefocused wide angle lens. His pictures frequently appeared as if they were driven by the energy of the events he was witnessing. While the style has been much imitated, Winogrand's eye, his visual style, and his wit, remain unique.

Interviewer: Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel
Part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Video Archive in the Duke University Libraries (click here)