In the preface to an unforgettable chapter, "A View of the Blues" in American Portrait, William Albert Allard writes, "If I had not become a photographer and a writer, I think I'd be a musician." If the images have anything to say, that seems entirely possible. Rarely has the hard, soulful, human, moving beauty of music been so lovingly portrayed. A pioneer of color photography for more than 50 years, Allard is a self-proclaimed "photographer of the people." His photography exudes
warmth and narrative. They capture the essence of a place around the edges of a scene.
William Albert Allard began his career at National Geographic where he worked many decades traveling widely and producing some of the magazines most memorable images. He has also as been a contributor to Magnum Photos. But color - and words - are his musical lexicon. Nowhere do these come together as luminously as in Portraits of America (National Geographic, 2008. 256 pages). His images blend the timeliness of Cartier-Bresson, the composition of Eliot Porter and the stark elegance of Eugene Smith. His work is a national treasure of beauty.
William Albert Allard
was our Spring 2013 featured artist and we have sold out of our seasonal supply of his book, but you can purchase direct from the artist. For more info, click here.
| 
