THE TEMPER OF AMERICAN MODERN EXPERIENCE

"Once you found a subject that interest you, you have a responsibility to explore it".

Unlike most of the photographers in Magnum whose photojournalistic approach focused on desperate human beings in war torn countries and cities, Dennis Stock followed what he felt curious and playful, exciting and crazy, moving from place to place.

He called himself a self assigned photographer, doing stories on actors and productions in Hollywood, exploring with his lens what was going on in the background when people weren't working. He was inspired in showing the type of actors they were, what they experienced in their childhood and who influenced them. He was introduced to the young actor James Dean at a party in Hollywood, who invited him to see his screenplay.

Dennis Stock got very enthousiastic about the talent of this young actor and decided to work  on a visual biography. Going back to Indiana, were Dean came from, was a very touching experience and Dennis Stock understood his temperament. He felt attracted to people who made their living the hard way,like himself.

In 1951 he participated in a contest for young professionals in Life Magazine about immigrants from east Germany and Poland. So he went to the docks covering their arrivals, which he felt very inspired, himself coming from a similar background;his parents were both emigrants.

His passion for music, especially jazz, made him explore the world of musicians all over United States. He liked the way they related to him, the idea that "if you do your job, I do my job." He was interested in the complete picture; about who they were, where did they live, their family and friends. And he had a very delightful time.

He loved the road, the highway system inspired a series on "Road People", exploring any kind of transportation, the feel of the highways as a mirror of a restless American society. He followed the roads himself from the west-coast all over the States. He was very much interested in the movement and lives on the hippie communities; feeling close to their free and alternative spirit.

Later, introducing colour to photography, approaching the sun in a theme he called "Brother sun", he was excited to find a special image of the sun.

Dennis Stock maintained his interest in photography until the end of his life, dedicated to the beauty of nature and landscape photography.

"Art is a well-articulated manifestation of an aspect of life. I have been privileged to view much of life through my cameras, making the journey an enlightened experience. My emphasis has mainly been on affirmative reactions to human behavior  and a strong attraction to  
the beauty in nature."

Hie died on January 15 2010,  at the age of 81.

Dennis Stock was himself the subject of a memorable portrait by Andreas Feininger, in which he holds a camera to his spotlighted face so that the lens appeared to be his right eye and the viewfinder his left eye.