Jack Mitchell (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Mitchell
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Self portrait
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| Born | September 13, 1925 Key West, Florida, U.S.
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| Died | November 7, 2013 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Photographer |
Jack Mitchell (born September 13, 1925 – died November 7, 2013) was a famous American photographer. He took pictures of many well-known American artists. These included dancers, actors, musicians, and writers. He was especially good at taking photos of dancers. He called these photos "moving stills" because they captured movement in a still image. His skill made him one of the most important dance photographers of his time.
Mitchell worked with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 30 years. He created over 10,000 images of their performances. He was also the official photographer for the American Ballet Theatre for ten years. He photographed dancers for other top ballet companies in the US and Canada too.
His photos appeared in major newspapers and on magazine covers. He had over 160 covers for Dance Magazine. Arts Magazine said he was the first photographer to show artists as interesting people outside their work. The Smithsonian called his work the standard for other dance photographers.
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Early Life and Photography Interest
Jack Mitchell was born in Key West, Florida in 1925. He grew up there and in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. His family moved to New Smyrna Beach in 1931. His father worked for the railroad.
Jack became interested in photography when he was young. When he was twelve, his parents bought him a Kodak Baby Brownie camera. It cost $54.
Starting a Photography Career
By the time he was 15, Jack had a press pass in Florida. This meant he could take photos for newspapers. At 16, he was working as a professional photographer. His first published photo was of actress Veronica Lake. She was visiting Florida for a war bonds tour.
Mitchell served as an Army photographer during World War II. He worked in Italy. After returning home in 1946, he opened his first photo studio. It was in New Smyrna Beach.
Dance Photography Specialty
In 1949, when Jack was 24, he visited Jacob's Pillow Dance. This was at the invitation of Ted Shawn, a famous dancer. Jack became very interested in dance photography. It soon became his special skill. He moved his studio to New York City in 1950.
He became the official photographer for the American Ballet Theatre. Starting in 1961, he spent many years photographing the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He took over 10,000 pictures of this dance company. Ailey's writer, Jennifer Dunning, said Mitchell's photos helped the company become famous early on. Mitchell also photographed dancers from other ballet companies. These included the Boston Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet.
Mitchell took over 160 covers for Dance Magazine. His 168th cover was published in July 2003. He called his dance photos "moving stills." He was known for his amazing lighting skills.
Photographing Famous People
Mitchell also photographed many other artists and famous people. He took pictures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono just a month before Lennon died. Other famous people he photographed included:
- Leonard Bernstein (a composer)
- Truman Capote (a writer)
- Jack Nicholson (an actor)
- Angela Lansbury (an actress)
- Andy Warhol (an artist)
- Alfred Hitchcock (a film director)
- Natalie Wood (an actress)
He spent ten years photographing actress Gloria Swanson. His work appeared in many major magazines. These included The New York Times, Life, People, and Time.
Mitchell was the subject of a 2006 documentary film. It was called My Life is Black and White. He also published books of his photos. One book was Icons & Idols (1998). Another was Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1993). In 2020, one of his photos was used for a permanent art piece in New York City.
Recognition for His Work
Arts Magazine said Jack Mitchell was the first photographer to show famous people as real individuals. He captured their unique personalities. The Smithsonian has a large collection of his photos. They called him "the benchmark and standard" for other dance photographers. This means his work was the best that others aimed for.
The New York Times published hundreds of his photos. They said he was great at both portraits and capturing complex movement. They also noted his expertise in lighting.
Later Life
Mitchell retired in 1995. He moved from New York City back to New Smyrna Beach. His partner, Robert Plavik, passed away in 2009. Jack Mitchell died in 2013 at his home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Images for kids
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Leontyne Price, 1981
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John Lennon and Yoko Ono
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