Wednesday, January 20, 2010

From Paul Gutheil


avedon-elephant-picture, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Just to keep things straight, it's "Dovima With Elephants" by the late
Richard Avedon.

If you Google Dovima you will get several of the photos that were taken,
with comments.

Notice the bulls are chained. Do you know whose they are ?

Best,

Paul

Posted by Buckles at 1/20/2010 06:12:00 AM

6 comments:

Bud said...

Fabulious ; reminds me of someone .

20 January, 2010 08:53
bill powell said...

Richard Avedon was arguably the pre eminent fashion photographer of the 20th century.

This is one of several photos taken in Paris around 1951 for a magazine. I forget the model's name but she was also quite famous in Parisian fashion circles.

The shot that ended up in Vanity Fair (not sure on actual magazine) was a a slightly different pose with the elephants in a more casual pose.

I was lucky to come across a signed poster copy of Dovima with elephants back in 1977 in a Washington poster gallery. I purchased it for Gee Gee and she displayed it for many years in her front foyer.

In 2006 we re created the pose with the Ringling Bros Elephants for the Circus committee of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation. The results were stunning and received quite a bit of press exposure for the good work the foundation does for pediatric neo natal care in the Tampa Bay area.

A few years ago I inquired about getting a "real" print of the famous Paris photograph from a New York art Gallery. The quoted cost was over 100 grand. Needless to say I politely declined the offer and am quite happy with my old poster.

bill powell

20 January, 2010 09:32
Anonymous said...

Bill: many thanks for all the info, greatly appreciate it. Do you have a copy of the Tampa General photo you could get to Buckles for the blog ?

At the beginning of the 20th century Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen,but patrticularly Stieglitz were incredibly instrumrntal in getting photography recognized as an art form. Many photographs today, for those who may not know, sell for 10's of thousands and more, witness your Avedon comment, or check out the likes of Ansel Adams, Stieglitz Steichen, and to stop myself here, original Kelty prints.

I've taken thousands of Circus photos, some not too bad, but I must say I was amazed when several years ago Diane and I went to a photo exhibit at a NYC gallery focusing mainly on Circus subjects.
One 8x10 B&W photo, priced (really) at either $3500.00 or $4500.00 took me aback. It was nothing more than a photo of a bear riding a bicycle and to me the pic was encumbered by rigging.
When I said to my wife, "Good grief, I've taken numerous photos extremely similar to that and I can't get 10 bucks." My wife brought me to grim reality by telling me, "Yes, but nobody ever heard of you dear." The names the game. Thanks again,very much for your comments.

Paul Gutheil

20 January, 2010 16:04
Anonymous said...

Paul,
I'll give you the ten bucks for all the pictures, or rather copies, that you took last year in Wilkes-Barre, PA at the Hamid Shrine show I announced! In fact, I'll be there again this year so expect to see you and Diane there!
I'll even take you over to the concession stand and get you two a dollar hotdog, each, and a dollar coke , too!!! How's that for making the "bigtime"!
And just to set the record straight...you are a famous photographer...and are always welcome on any "lot" that you show up on!
Enough said!
Pete, the Baraboobian!

21 January, 2010 01:08
Raffaele De Ritis said...

Avedon pictures were taken in the backstage of Cirque d'Hiver building in Paris, 1951.
The elephant are part of the former Bouglione herd.
Another famous picture of the series portrays one of the Bouglione brothers with a snake.

21 January, 2010 09:35
Anonymous said...

Pete: After those kind words do you really think I'd take a nickel?

Seriously, many thanks for the comments. They came at a particularly good time as I recently had a minor cardiac event; I'm fine now and on another daily pill.

Been wanting to mail you photos, but can't find your card. send me your email (pdgutheil@earthlink,net).

We're planning on Irem in W-B and very much look forward to seeing you again.

By the way, as with most Fans, the photos are gratis, just another way to say thanks for all thrills chills and laughs you Showfolks give us.

I still get a kick when people we don't really know are given photos and they ask, "How Much?" I usually say $500.00 or nothing, it's your choice.

The Circus...still one of the best medicines around.

Paul the New Joisian

21 January, 2010 18:21

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