Stephen Shore is an American photographer who is known for producing outstanding photos of banal scenes.
The Early Years
Shore was born in 1947 and just 6 years later his interest in photography was sparked by his uncle who gave him a gift of a photographic darkroom kit. Three years later he was given a 35mm camera and he began taking his first color images. After receiving the Walker Evan’s book, American Photographs Shore knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. So confident in his ability, at the age of 14 he presented several of his photographs to Edward Steichen, renowned photographer and curator of the Museum of Modern Art. Three years later Shore met Andy Warhol and became a regular at his studio, the Factory. He photographed the workings of the studio including the visitors and friends who visited it. By the age of 24 he had a solo exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
His Photographic Journey
Having accomplished such milestones at such a young age Shore decided to explore and did so by making cross country trips and documenting his journey. Often the photographs he took were of ordinary people, places and events which he caught in a unique manner with his photographic eye.
His Cameras
Shore began his photography career using a 35 millimeter camera and then moved on to a 4 x 5 and then to an 8 x 10 format. He produced a book in 1982 entitled Uncommon Places which was considered a bible for photographers looking to shoot in color. Up until this point in history only black and white images were taken seriously. Many well respected photographers have credited Shore with introducing them to the beauty of color photography.
Awards and Recognition
Shore received recognition for his work in the form of a Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in 1975 and two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in 1974 and 1979. His work has also been exhibited at the George Eastman House at the New York Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of fine art, also in New York. Several other museums in various states have exhibited his work including Houston, Seattle, Washington and Connecticut.
In 1991 Shore went back to photographing in black and white and more recently has moved on to digital imaging.
Currently Shore is the director of the photography department at Bard College a position he has held since 1982.
Resources:
Museum of Contemporary Photography
http://www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/shore_stephen.php
Stephen Shore Images
http://www.billcharles.com/catalog/stephen_shore/1/
J. Paul Getty Museum
http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=3666&page=1