American-born Arnold spent most of her adult life living in Great Britain, when not traveling the world working on assignments for Magnum Photo Agency.
Arnold was noted for her intimate portraits of actress Marilyn Monroe, but also produced a large body of photo-journalist reportage images that subsequently were published as monographs on such cities and countries as Moscow, London, China, Afghanistan, South Africa and South America.
This is by no means an obituary for Eve Arnold, that has been better seen at Magnum or
The Guardian.
No, this is more one photographer’s cautionary tale about opportunity lost!
Arnold once said that “it is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument”… and in a period of naivety and enthusiasm, I missed the opportunity to meet one such photographer.
Let me explain – I have been a long time member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and in the early part of my career as an advertising photographer I was a member of the organising committee for a convention on the Gold Coast. One of my tasks was to escort noted New Zealand photo-journalist Brian Brake, to Brisbane airport. During the journey I mentioned that I was about to embark on a trip to Aberdeen in Scotland to document the performances of a Brisbane contemporary dance company and was worried about getting colour transparencies (you know, film before a digital age) processed prior to my return to Australia. As is the case with good photographers Brake was keen to share with me the name of his laboratory in London. Brake was also a member of the Magnum Photo Agency and as such had access to very good labs, so I was keen to make a note. He then also offered me the name of, in his words “a great photographer and a good friend of mine”!
Here is where the story sinks to a low ebb – at this time in my career I was self-taught (post graduate qualifications in visual arts came later), and I was faintly aware of the Magnum Photo Agency and totally unaware of Eve Arnold. I did use the services of the laboratory in London and did telephone Arnold. Brian Brake had written advising her that I would be in town and to expect my call. My telephone call to Arnold went something along the lines of – “thank you for offering me afternoon tea, but I’m a busy Brisbane photographer who has a lot to do in London, so if you don’t mind I don’t think I’ll find the time to visit ….” Yes, afternoon tea with a Living Treasure and One of the Greatest Photographers of the Twentieth Century!
Eve Arnold, thank you for your passion to document, your pursuit of the image… and for providing us– through your lens– some exquisite insights into our World.
Vale Eve Arnold.
