WW II Kodachrome Photographs

My son sent me a link to Pavel Kosenko's blog which showcases 4 x 5 Kodachrome photographs from World War II.  I am posting some of the images by Alfred T. Palmer, several of which were shot for the Office of War Information.  For me, these photographs feel like glamor shots - for some reason, they make me think of George Hurrell's Hollywood portraits!  Maybe I am just responding to the time period and how that may have influenced this style of shooting. 

I am also posting a shot from this same time frame by Howard R. Hollem that shows not just the vivid colour of Kodachrome, but the exceptional detail it rendered - check out the fuzz on the woman's pink sweater.  I encourage you to check out Pavel's blog to see more of these beautiful, vintage photographs replete with captions.  Enjoy!

This next shot is by Howard R. Hollem (see what I mean about the pink fuzz?)

National Geographic

I'm not sure if this is a matter of the "decisive moment" or more a matter of scrambling to get a shot and actually getting it!  Here is the caption Daniel Dolpire provided to National Geographic "Your Shot" when he submitted this photograph.  

"I took this "once-in-a-lifetime" shot at Klein's Camp in the Serengeti, Tanzania.  We came upon these lions at 7:17 in the morning. I scrambled for my two camera bodies (Nikon D4 and D3s and 200mm-400mm and 500mm) and got the shot! Exactly six minutes later the first lion got up and within another five minutes, three were sleeping and the other three had gone off into the bush! I have been taking wildlife photos for over 20 years, but this has got to be my special moment!"

Irving Penn Masks

Around this time in October of 2009, Irving Penn passed away at the age of 92.  (Click here for a bio the New York Times published in 2009.)Here is a compilation of images featuring masks ... something apropos of October and its bearing of Halloween.