Jack Laxer facts for kids
Jack Laxer (born 1927, died 2018) was an American photographer. He was famous for his special way of taking pictures called stereoscopy. This method makes photos look 3D!
Since the 1950s, Jack Laxer's photos of modern buildings in California have been shared widely. You could find them in magazines and books. They were also shown in museums and used in learning programs.
He used a special camera called the Stereo Realist. With it, he took pictures of homes belonging to famous people like Lucille Ball and Harold Lloyd.
Contents
What is Stereoscopy?
Stereoscopy is a cool way to create pictures that look like they have depth. It's like seeing things in 3D! A stereo camera takes two pictures at the same time. These pictures are taken from slightly different angles, just like your two eyes see things.
When you look at these two pictures together, your brain combines them. This makes the image pop out and look real, almost like you can reach out and touch it. Jack Laxer was a master at this type of photography.
Photographing California's Modern Buildings
Jack Laxer worked with many important architects. These included Paul R. Williams, Arthur Froehlich, Ladd & Kelsey, and Armet & Davis. Armet & Davis were especially known for their unique "Googie" style coffee shops.
Starting in 1951, Jack Laxer photographed many of their designs. This included famous places like Norms, Pann’s, and the Holiday Bowl. His pictures helped show off these amazing buildings.
His photos were even featured in a book by Alan Hess called Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture. This book helped bring back interest in the Googie style in the 1980s. It showed how important these buildings were.
Exhibitions and Awards
Jack Laxer's work was shown in many places. In 1993, the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee displayed his photos. This was part of an exhibit about the work of Armet & Davis.
Later, in 2001, the group used his 3D photos at the California Science Center. People could see them in a special way that made them look truly 3D.
In 2009, a gallery in Los Angeles called DKRM showed his work. This was a solo show called Ultra-Angeles: Kodachrome in 3-D. It focused on his amazing 3D color photos.
Teaching and Museum Shows
Jack Laxer also shared his knowledge with others. In 2010, he taught a class at the Getty Museum. The class was called Modernism in 3-D: The Art of Stereo Photography. He taught people how to create their own 3D images.
The Chinese American Museum also showed his 3D work in 2012. They had special viewers so people could experience the depth of his photos. This was part of their exhibit about Chinese American architects.
The Getty Museum included Jack Laxer's photos in their exhibit Overdrive: L.A. Constructs The Future. His were the only stereo photos in the show! This exhibit later moved to the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
Receiving the Modern Master Award
In 2009, the Los Angeles Conservancy gave Jack Laxer a special award. He received the Modern Master award. This honor recognized his important contributions to photography and documenting modern architecture.
Jack Laxer passed away on June 12, 2018, at the age of 91. His unique 3D photographs continue to be an important record of California's modern buildings.
