123 ☼ Two of My Mentors Passed Away This Week
GIVEAWAY: $150 gift certificate for the Moment shop
Dear friends,
This week's letter is about Larry Fink and Elliott Erwitt. These two legends passed away this week. They made a tremendous impact on my life and work. They were unknowing mentors and they changed the way I looked at photography.
Also in this issue, a continuation of the Process Giveaway with my friends at Moment who made available a $150 gift certificate to their online photography shop.
☀️ Shout out to my friends at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Elliott Erwitt
In the ever-expanding world of photography, where our legends shine like constellations, I had the privilege of meeting two luminaries whose words became my guiding stars. Elliott Erwitt and Larry Fink, both passed away in the past week, left behind a legacy that transcends pixels and film.
I was fortunate enough to have some wonderful conversations with both, two mentors who somewhat unknowingly played a crucial role in shaping my photographic voice and some of the biggest decisions I have made over the years. Their words, weighty and wise, still echo in my mind as I navigate my career as a photographer and artist.
Elliott Erwitt, with his camera always at the ready, once told me, "A picture is good when it makes you laugh or cry. When it communicates." In those few words, he captured the essence of what draws me to photography – the power to evoke emotion, to tell stories in a single frame, to move others.
Mr. Erwitt's unassuming approach to the craft struck a chord with me. He admitted, "I'm kind of sloppy. I don't make any apologies for what I do," and it loosened me up a bit from my perfectionist tendencies. It was an acknowledgment that perfection is elusive, and the pursuit of it is an ever-evolving journey.
His humor and straightforward views on commercial work also resonated with me, shaping my perspective on finding a healthy balance between personal and commercial projects. When I told him I at times struggled with finding creative satisfaction from commercial world he told me, “I love commercial work. It pays well for minimum effort. The commercial aspect of it is a craft.”
His words reminded me that client work wasn’t about me and my artsy feelings, but about serving the client’s needs and paying my rent, without making it less important or less worthy.
Larry Fink, on the other hand, delved into the intricate dance of class and human emotion. "I'm very interested in class. The emotional system absolutely floats within and throughout the whole idea of class, the whole idea of smart and stupid," he shared. Fink's exploration of societal nuances inspired my own interest in documenting communities and seeking stories below the surface. When I asked him if his politics affected his work in any way he said: "No. Not the work. It affects life."
Both mentors, though distinct in their styles, shared a commonality in their generous approach to wisdom. Erwitt's dry wit and Fink's poetic expressions left a mark.
Elliott Erwitt's take on the future of photography – "I don't see much future in [photography]…not for many people" – challenged me to consider the evolving landscape of the art form and exploring other aspects of storytelling.
Fink wasn’t particularly preoccupied with other photographers. "My heroes were always jazz musicians and revolutionaries. So when a guy dies like Steve Lacy or Roy Hargrove, it hurts me, but it doesn't do anything to my pictures except what it would normally do just as a human appetite for pain and loss. That's when I really feel time passing by, is when the people who play the music drop out."
As I reflect on the legacies of Erwitt and Fink, I am reminded of the richness they brought to the world of photography and my own creative pursuits. Their words, like snapshots frozen in time, continue to guide me, urging me to embrace imperfection, find beauty in simplicity, and, above all, capture the essence of the human experience.
In saying goodbye to these two giants, I celebrate not just their work but the profound impact they've had on photographers worldwide, myself included. Their wisdom, unfussy yet profound, lives on in the frames we capture and the stories we tell. As I continue to walk my path, I carry with me the echoes of Erwitt's mischievous chuckle and Fink's poetic musings, forever grateful for their unwitting mentorship in the art of seeing.
That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Additional Reading
Check out Larry Fink’s amazing work on his website, with a special shout out to a beautiful body of work called Social Graces.
Check out Elliott Erwitt’s legendary images on his website, including a set of fantastic portraits of historically relevant public faces.
Check out my visit with another legend, in the very first issue of Process:
Process 001 ☼ Visiting Bruce Davidson
Let me tell you about a most wonderful afternoon I spent with living legend Bruce Davidson, and his lovely wife Emily. I visited their home and got to chat about the craft, see Mr. Davidson's dark room and office, and take a bunch of portraits.
Next Week: I take you behind the scenes of my favorite studio shoot of 2023, creating artwork for the brilliant comedian Lara Ricote’s upcoming tour and special.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS A great way to support Process and enjoy a body of work I’m very proud of, consider buying my photo book NOTICE. It makes for a great holiday present as well.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: Pentax 67ii
Film Stocks: Kodak Portra 400 (turned black and white in my edit).
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free size upgrade.
Website: A huge thank you to Squarespace for making this edition of Process a reality. If you need a website, I highly recommend Squarespace. I've been a satisfied customer for over 10 years (!!!) – it's incredibly user-friendly, allowing me to effortlessly create and maintain a beautiful and professional portfolio and webshop.
Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
Process Giveaway
My pals over at Moment are back for a generous giveaway! One winner will receive a $150 gift card to buy whatever you wish including film, bags, a course, and more.
To enter this week’s Process Giveaway just ask me any question you may have:
Ask Me Anything: Feel free to ask me anything—whether it's about gear, my career path, life as a professional photographer, finding my voice, getting my work published, or what it's like to have a newsletter. Just drop your question in the comments below.
A bunch of people already left interesting questions in the comments last week, but there’s room for lots more. Anything you’d like to ask.
I'll choose the most intriguing questions to feature in an upcoming edition of Process for everyone to enjoy. By asking a question, you automatically enter the Giveaway.
ENTER THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY before 11 a.m. EST on December 10th
The winner will be randomly drawn. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only.
There a touch of melancholy in your (beautiful!) portraits of Elliott Erwitt, isn't there? By comparison with other portraits i've seen, that is, where he appears more malicious and funny, more in line with his photography. Was it your intention to catch him "out of character" when you made the images?
""I don't see much future in [photography]…not for many people" – challenged me to consider the evolving landscape of the art form and exploring other aspects of storytelling."
I would like to engage in some deep dialog around this.. I don't believe it has been done so yet at a deep level, by anyone that I'm aware of. I believe that photography can regain its place for powerful storytelling - I am seeing evidence of this; but it takes us (the photographic storytellers) to move that forward...