W. Eugene Smith

W. Eugene Smith lived from 1918 to 1978 and is probably best known for his photojournalistic coverage of WWII. That aside, Smith was quite a versatile photographer and captured many different subjects across his career. He was known for both his stubbornness and his humanist approach to photojournalism. His images are so prevalent that most people have probably encountered a few, unwittingly or otherwise.

At a young age, W. Eugene Smith was introduced to photography by his mother. By the time he was fifteen, he was having his images published in two local newspapers. Shortly after graduating high school, Smith began working at Newsweek. Unfortunately, his position with them didn't last long. This was because he happened to be quite stubborn in his ways, and would often not cooperate with how Newsweek wished him to carry out his job.

W. Eugene Smith continued to do a great deal of freelance work, including some for the New York Times. He started a position at LIFE, and it was here that he started documenting the war in the Pacific. Smith wanted to document the war in hopes that people would see how ridiculous and terrible he thought it was. He photographed wounded soldiers, bomber planes, Japanese victims, and plenty of other wartime sights. Unfortunately, he was struck by shrapnel from a Japanese mortar shell in April of 1945. Severe damage was caused to his face and hands, and Smith was not able to return to photography for just over a year.

In May of 1946, Smith was determined to take a new picture after his long recovery. He managed to get his camera and photograph his young son and daughter stepping out of the woods behind his own house. It was a photograph that symbolized hope, as well as the end of the long, terrible war. This picture became one of his most famous, and it is rare to read an article about him without hearing mention of it.

Photo by W. Eugene Smith | The International Center of Photography

Eventually Smith became frustrated with LIFE, as they often did not conform to his creative vision when publishing his work. As a result of this, Smith left LIFE and joined up with Magnum, as they advocated for photojournalists' rights and would likely give him the freedom that he desired.

In the time after his work at LIFE, Smith worked on a variety of projects. One of these was an incredibly ambitious project involving Pittsburgh. Smith ended up taking thousands of photos around the area, but he was not ever able to create something that aligned with his vision. The project exhausted him, and it hurt his relationship with Magnum. Eventually, he left them as well.

Smith continued working on a variety of projects, one of which was coverage of a polluted village in Japan. Eventually, he moved to Arizona to teach at their university. In 1978, he died of a stroke. Since then, his work has been shown in countless museums, and he has become known worldwide for his effort in the field of photojournalism.


Sources:

The Photography of W. Eugene Smith. LIFE. Retrieved from https://www.life.com/photographer/w-eugene-smith/

William Eugene Smith. International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved from https://iphf.org/inductees/william-eugene-smith/

W. Eugene Smith. Magnum Photos. Retrieved from https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/w-eugene-smith/

W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult. American Masters. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/w-eugene-smith-about-w-eugene-smith/707/

Exploring My Neighborhood

A neglected segment of Columbus St.

May 21, 2020 at 5:35 PM

The neighborhood I live in sits on the Southeastern side of Albany, quite near to the Mennonite Village. One of the main residential roads in this neighborhood is a segment of Columbus St. which has been closed off on either end. In this picture, you can see one of the especially neglected sections of this old road. This segment of Columbus exists due to the main road's rerouting around the neighborhood, which left the old street in awkward pieces.

Linda Aanes with Lucky (Golden Retriever) and Penny (Chihuahua)

May 21, 2020 at 6:32 PM

Due to various neighborhood-wide events and gatherings, most of the people in the area are familiar with each other. The one person who is likely the most well-known, however, is Linda Aanes. Linda walks her dogs, Lucky and Penny, through the neighborhood multiple times every day, and has done so for as long as I can remember. Linda seems to have managed to become friends with nearly everyone in the area, and if you spend enough time outdoors walking around you are likely to be greeted by her and her two furry companions.

A previously abandoned house on 48th St. that is now getting renovations

May 21, 2020 at 5:26 PM

A recent change in the neighborhood has come in the repair of an old house that sits just a block away from my own. This house has sat abandoned for nearly an entire decade after it was foreclosed on by a bank, and up until recently it stood as the stereotypical spooky house, with its progressively deteriorating walls and occasional visits from squatters. In recent months, however, it has begun to get the love and attention it deserves. Renovations are being made and the whole thing is being cleaned up. I'm sure that many people in the area are glad to see it being fixed up, as I know that I certainly am.

Environmental Portrait of Robert Gilbert

Robert can be seen here, Thursday evening, May 14, sitting in one of his favorite spots to write: a comfy outdoor chair on his partially enclosed porch.

Robert Gilbert, my father, has been writing since his teenage years. Currently employed as an accountant, he spends much of his free time drafting and composing books. He just finished publishing his sixth book, The Binding, which he is able to make available through Amazon.com's publishing services. Robert spends years writing each book, and some of them are based on stories he came up with decades before.

Life as Usual

Photo Taken Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 5:08 PM

This spring my family decided to raise another pair of chickens. As it turns out, a lot of people had the same idea. The quarantine has certainly not hindered everyone's desire for feathered friends, and there was quite the line to pick up these two when they were chicks. These chickens are not yet fully grown, and they are active, curious, and very loving. Once they are big enough to hold their own against the neighborhood cats, they will be free to roam our chicken run and enjoy the hot summer weather. From left to right, they are named Corona and Wuhen, inspired by the current pandemic.

Photo Taken Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 4:44 PM

My father, Robert Gilbert, is an accountant at the Mennonite Village in Albany. He has worked there 20 years, and has been deemed an essential worker. He lives close enough to his workplace to be able to walk to work every day, and can be seen here on his way home. Due to his essential worker status, his daily routine hasn't changed as much as some.

Photo Taken Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 7:45 PM

School buildings may be closed, and commencement ceremonies canceled, but that hasn't kept West Albany High School from congratulating its graduates. Their building can be seen here decorated with plenty of commemorative signs. Ceremonies or not, a new wave of high school graduates are going to be taking new steps in life and paving the path for their futures.

A Hobby on Halt

Todd Moore is a Stayton Oregon resident with a passion for disc golf. Todd has shot baskets all over Oregon, from its mountains to its coast. He can be seen here, Wednesday evening April 30th, with his collection of golf discs and his carrying cart. There haven't been many games to play recently, as the baskets of Oregon's disc courses have been closed off right alongside playgrounds and basketball courts. Although he may not be able to play right now, Todd assures us that, as soon as the quarantine is over, he will get right back to hitting courses all across the state.