Goodby Mr. Avedon and travel well from out, a weblog by George Girton

Goodby Mr. Avedon and travel well . . . . . oct 31 2004 — o41.dat

Paging backwards through the 1 November issue of the New Yorker magazine, I came across an amazing photograph. And then another. I hadn't seen any of them before, but after another page or two found tears come to my eyes. I knew if these great landmark photos continued to appear as I paged on, that I would start to cry. It wasn't a good feeling, knowing that a great photographer must have died.

These were the last photos by Mr. Richard Avedon. The newsstand price of the November 1 New Yorker is only four dollars and ninety-five cents, and while there are lots of reasons to read it, including what is being billed as a first-ever endorsement of a presidential candidate (Kerry), Avedon's last photos are a compelling reason to buy it and keep it around.

Venturing far from his studio in the final days of his life, Richard Avedon evidently had it in mind to document, or at least create some views of, an America under considerable stress and disagreement. Born in 1923, he hadn't finished his final project.

A bonus of your strongly encouraged immediate purchase? A well-reasoned and not-too-long indictment of Bush-as-president. Run don't walk to your local newsstand. And then, of course, be sure to vote.

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