RE: RE: RE: [Leica] John John Picture

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Bob (who shouldn't appologize for contributing something interesting and
insightful about an honest-to-God photographer to this list ;-) ) McEowen -

Thanks for the insights. The kind of experience he lived through has to mark
someone - if there is anything there to mark. I wonder what ever happened to
the radio guy who did the Hindenburg disaster, or, for that matter, the
Mutual Radio guy who was right in the middle of the RFK assassination...

And the scootching along the wall observation was worth the price of
admission...

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of
Ruralmopics@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2000 6:17 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: RE: RE: [Leica] John John Picture


In a message dated 2/24/00 10:38:06 AM, bdcolen@earthlink.net writes:

>Thanks, Bob (who has been luck enough to lead a relatively peaceful life)
>
>McEowen, another fascinating example. You're right, of course, think of
>
>Epperidge and you think of the RFK photo - nothing since...

The experience really seems to have shattered Bill. It was strange to watch
him show his "eye-openers" at the Missouri Photojournalism Workshop. All the
other editors would show this really touching personal stuff -- Bill Stode's
heart transplant story, Mellissa Farlow's stomach stapling story, Jim
Richardson's Cuba, Kans, or High School USA -- and Bill would show this
really "weird" stuff. I remember one year he showed a story he shot of a
Narwhal whale hunt. Another year he showed a story about the non-game
activities and sideline happenings at NFL football. It sort of seems like he
was trying to stay in photojournalism without really engaging with people or
their lives. That may be unfair, I don't know but it did seem like he was
somehow emotionally crippled. With all that being said, I really liked the
guy and always looked forward to seeing him and talking to him whenever he
came to MU or I got to go to the workshop. I'll always remember him
addressing students at MU. He was leaning his back against the wall and
somebody asked him if he had any practical advice for a beginning
photojournalist. He started scooting his butt sideways along the wall and
said to always work your way slowly around the room, looking at the
situation
from different angles. Yeah, I know, really simple, basic advice but it --
and the image of Bill stealthily scooting around the room -- sticks with me
to this day. One year when the workshop was held in the town where I was
working I shot some photos of him and brought him a couple of prints. He
acted like he was touched by the photos and the gesture. That may have been
the last time I talked to him. I saw him on TV a year or so ago promoting
his
Bobby Kennedy book and he talked as if he had finally found some closure on
the whole deal by doing the book. I hope so. He's a neat guy . . .

Bob (apologizes for waxing poetic about Bill Epperidge) McEowen