The Iconic Work of Photographer Dennis Stock

Famous for portraits of James Dean and Louis Armstrong

The Iconic Work of Photographer Dennis Stock

The Iconic Work of Photographer Dennis Stock

By Matthew Reitman

Dennis Stock was one of the most prolific photographers of the 20th century. He is best known for his work with actor James Dean. The majority of Dean’s most iconic photographs were produced by Stock, including the famous image of the young star trudging through Times Square in the rain (see below). After gaining recognition for that work, Stock went on to photograph subjects such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and President John F. Kennedy.

In the late 1950s, Stock honed in on the jazz scene, documenting stars like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. During the ’60s, Stock traveled around the United States capturing the essence of “counterculture,” most notably the burgeoning hippie movement. In his words, the photographer was priveleged to document “affirmative reactions to human behavior and pay strong attention to the beauty in nature.” American Cool, an anthology of Stock’s photography career, is available now and can be purchased here. Below is a sample of photos from the book.

Office workers posing through the window at New York City’s First National Bank in 1961. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) Portrait of a couple in ‘American Gothic style’ in 1969. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) Louis Armstrong having one last minute of concentration in the wings before appearing in public in Philadelphia during 1958. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) Opening of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1959. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) James Dean walking through New York City’s Times Square in 1955. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) An ape on set during the making of ‘Planet of the Apes’ in California. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) A concertgoer dances on stage at the Venice Beach Rock Festival in 1968. (©Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)
Exit mobile version