23Carl Mydans

Photographer’s Forum, September 1997

Carl Mydans (1907–2004) was one of the world’s most acclaimed photojournalists. The year of this interview he was celebrating his 90th birthday. In honor of the occasion, SOHO Triad Fine Arts Gallery, located in New York City, held an exhibition featuring over 65 photographs that reflected the varied and prolific nature of Mydans’ career. Exhibited works included those from 1936 and 1937 when he photographed for the U.S. Farm Security Administration (FSA), as well as photographs from his years with LIFE magazine from 1936 until it was no longer published as a weekly in 1972.

Mydans was chosen to receive the 1997 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, presented by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations ...

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