favorite photographer

My favorite photographer is Jay Maisel. Jay Maisel began his career in photography in 1954. Jays earlier background is actually in painting rather than photography. He went to a high school that emphasized fine arts and that is what started his passion. When he graduated he was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study painting with Joseph Hirsch. After that year of studying, Jay got into Cooper Union and Yale where he studied painting, drawing and 3-D design. He says they wouldn’t let him into the photography studio because that wasn’t his course of study. He was eventually able to get in due to the help of the watchman after he was in the darkroom every night. Jay did not decide to become a photographer until he got his degree in painting. He thought of it as cowardly to not persue his dream as a painter. He stated in the beginning doing commercial work for Dance magazine.He is best known for capturing the light, color, and gesture found in every day life. His photos are simple, he doesn’t use complex lighting or fancy cameras. He often only takes one lens on photo outings, and he enjoys taking photos of shapes and lights that he finds interesting. This kept him maintained for over fourty years. shooting annual reports, magazine covers, jazz albums, advertising and etc; Some accomplishments include five Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers, the first two covers of New York Magazine, and the cover of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. Jay stopped commercial work in the late 90's, and continued to focus on his personal work. He is known as an giving and inspiring teacher. He quotes "I can safely say I have never made my way to maturity so I have never been jaded or bored. I think all this is due to the grittiness and hectic quality of the city, you never capture it, it captures you.” Jay has gone back to his previous work, and put together a collection of black and white images he made as a young man in the 1950s. Jay has always made a point to shoot pictures for himself. Whenever he was on the job he would walk around looking at things that intrested him, these are the pictures most of the clients would buy. The pressure of shooting commercially eventually led jay to retire. Maisel takes many of his personal photos while on assignment for corporations, and sells dye transfers to private collections. Maisel continues to teach young photographers at workshops, seminars, and lectures around the world and in his studio, a six-story former bank building on the Bowery in New York. Visitors are ushered onto an indoor basketball court, entrance to the domain of a self-described “pack-rat collector” who readily admits to having “the soul of a janitor.” He gives the same personal connection to both his commerical and personal work. He likes to wander around looking at things, then captures the moments. Jay Maisel still has a love and passion for photography today.