h. nazan ışık—

10 Nisan 2018—

The photography show, presented by AIPAD (The Association of International Photography Art Dealers) was a stage to 100 galleries from all over the world,

The show was held at, very specious, Pier 94; when you enter you start visiting galleries. But in the back there was another world: Book Dealers, Publishers & Photography-Related Organizations.

And AIPAD Talks, Special Projects (The PhotoBook Spotlight presented by Aperture, and AIPAD Screening Room, curated by Mary Engel)

I was very much interested in the Screening Room events, especially “Underfire: The untold story of Tony Vaccaro”, a 71-minute film Directed by Max Lewkowicz, presented by Monroe Gallery of Photography.

Tony Vaccaro narrated the film, I can say, and took us back to the WW2 with his stories and war images he took. At the age of 21, he was drafted into the war, and was determined to photograph the war. He had his portable 35mm Argus C-3 with him from the start. By the end of the war, Mr. Vaccaro had taken nearly 8,000 photographs.

The images, we saw in the film, were very powerful, some sad, but all very powerful. In 1950, Mr. Vaccaro started a new career as a commercial photographer, eventually working for Life,

He was there, in the Screening Room watching the film too. After the movie I approached him. He was very kind, and very approachable.

Legendary photographer Tony Vaccaro

“How do you pronounce your name?” I asked.

He answered “Tony Vaccaro,” (he pronounced Vaccaro how it should be pronounced, very Italian way.)

I repeated after him.

He said his name one more time.

And I repeated again. I guess I did it better than the first time he looked satisfied.

He; “Vaccaro means cowboy.”

“Vacca is cow, and ro is a man who herds the cows.”

“Cowboy in Italy!!!??!!!” I asked.

He smiled.

Later we went to “Monroe Gallery of Photography”, where some of his pictures were on the wall.

One picture was of Georgia O’Keeffe. She was in a car and looking through a hole in a cheese in her hand.

Georgia O’Keeffe 1960

“We were in the car, having a picnic, because it was raining outside. We waited from 12:00 o’clock to 2:00 o’clock. And 2:00 o’clock she said, ”Let’s have the picnic in the car,” And we did. So I took this picture in the car.” Explained Tony Vaccaro.

He wanted to sit down

One said, “ You are 95. You can sit down.”

His camera around his neck, he was taking pictures as he sat down

“95 years young! What is your secret?” I asked.

“I walk to my office every morning, it takes me half an hour, and I walk everyday!” he answered with a beautiful smile.

Such a remarkable experience it was to meet him, he welcomed me with a warm heart, and a great sense of humour and a beautiful smile.

Photographs: © h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN

© h. nazan ışık