Photography lost one of it’s great icons this weekend. It was reported by the NY Times that famed fashion photographer Bill Cunningham – the photographer who is credited with being the Father of Street Photography – has passed away at the age of 87 shortly after being hospitalized for a stroke.
Beyond his legend as a fashion photographer and street photographer, Cunningham held tenure on the NY Times staff for over 40 years, earning himself a bit of a celebrity status across the globe. Known for his fashion photography that documented what people on the streets of New York wore, his “On the Street” and “Evening Hours” columns were described as the city’s unofficial yearbook by The New Yorker.
“His company was sought after by the fashion world’s rich and powerful, yet he remained one of the kindest, most gentle and humble people I have ever met.” NY Times Chairman Arthur Ochs Sulzberger said in a statement quoted on the NY Times website, “We have lost a legend, and I am personally heartbroken to have lost a friend.”
In 2010 Cunningham was the focus of a documentary, which has been widely acclaimed as one of the best photography focused documentaries, making the cut for Resource Magazine’s ’10 Documentaries Every Photographer Should Watch.” Cunningham inspired photographers from all walks of life, birthed a now thriving niche of photography (street photography) and left his mark on the world in a way that not many achieve.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Cunningham family, his friends and colleagues at the NY Times, and everyone who was touched, photographed, or inspired by the man and his work.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Huffington Post