Harry Callahan

(1912-1999) Landscapes, Photojournalism, Portraiture

Biography: "Harry Callahan was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He purchased his first camera in 1938 and joined the camera club at Chrysler Motors, where he worked. Strongly influenced by a 1941 lecture and workshop given by Ansel Adams, Callahan traded his enlarger for an 8 x 10 view camera. In 1946 Callahan was hired by László Moholy-Nagy to teach photography at the Institute of Design in Chicago. He taught at the
Institute until 1961, at which time he left for the Rhode Island School of Design, where he taught until his retirement in 1977.

Throughout his career, Callahan explored a number of different subjects. Landscapes, city streets and pedestrians, and portraits of his wife, Eleanor, received much of Callahan’s attention over the years. With a characteristic sharpness and a strong sense of design, Callahan is known for his ability to transform his subjects into arresting compositions of simplicity and grace.

More on Harry Callahan:

•George Eastman House - Harry Callahan
Extensive Gallery of Harry Callahan's Photography

•Harry Callahan
Reference Web Page

•Harry Callahan's Great Photography Experiment
Photo Experiment by Harry Callahan