Baldwin S. Lee

Currently a professor of Arts at the University of Tennessee, Baldwin S. Lee was born in 1951 in Brooklyn, New York. Possibly, most famously known as Walker Evans' last dark room assistant at Yale Univeristy, Lee, in my mind, is an undervalued photographer. As Evans' apprentice for quite some time, it is apparent in Lee's photographs that he learned a great amount about the art of photography during his time spend under Evans' hand. Though differing from a lot of Walker's work, Lee has a great sense for photo composition and depth, as depicted in his landscape panorama studies.

Similarly, Lee took an interest in photographing people in the same way Evans did. Capturing stunning detail on the faces of adults, children, and the elderly, Lee composed a series of prints that he made into a collage using only half of one person's face and composing it with another half of someone else's face. Through this series I felt Lee was trying to convey a message of unity, likeness and a parallel across all cultures. We, as a human race are one.

Photographs taken of "Black Americans in the South" by Lee is also comparable to Evans' series of images from Alabama during the Great Depression. In classic Walker Evans fashion, using extreme detail, Lee gives the viewer the best possible recreation of the actual event captured in time. Every wrinkle and every line on every face of each individual makes the photograph feel realistic and pragmatic. It is because of this type of imagery, Evans and Lee's pictures tend to express so much emotion.

It was very interesting listening to how Baldwin Lee described Walker Evans' photographs. It is apparent Lee engages in the same type of relationship with, and passion for photography as Evans' did. Lee knew exactly what Evans thought about a photo, and the particular way he wanted his subject to be conveyed. Baldwin S. Lee has an incredible way of depicting accuracy in each of his images. I believe Walker Evans would have been honored to call him a novice.

Sources: http://baldwinlee.com/default.htm

Amy Blair