Edward Steichen (1879–1973)

The photographs represented Steichen’s endeavor to capture all aspects of the war effort and to ensure that the military and civilian experiences were told. In 1942, Steichen and his six hand-picked photographers began their assignment with the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/prior-exhibit...… (more)

I believe I was a teenager when I first obtained this book, the record of a 1950s photographic collection showing how people around the world are part of a Family of Man (Human), that they have so much in common in their diversity. The text and the quotes, as well as the poignant pictures, spoke to me. The goal, in the face of possible world annihilation, to argue our commonality, touched me. In retrospect, perhaps it seems naive. There is more than a hint of colonialism in the selection. In retrospect, these outstanding photographs may suffer from the reproduction of so much black and white photography in a mass market edition as well. To some extent, these photographs are time capsule of a vanished time, the early 20th century.

But to me, these photographs still have the power to stir powerful emotions.… (more)