Description

In 1967, Magnum photographer Dennis Stock visited the California set of the first Planet of the Apes movie, famous for its twist ending with the decayed Statue of Liberty appearing from the sands like a lost relic. Weaving between director Franklin J. Schaffner and lead actors Charlton Heston and Linda Harrison, Stock’s camera caught a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the blockbuster and its cast, outfitted in John Chambers’ groundbreaking prosthetic makeup. Actors were said to have spent three hours having their faces fixed up using innovative techniques created by the celebrated make-up artist.

Art is a well-articulated manifestation of an aspect of life. I have been privileged to view much of life through my cameras, making the journey an enlightened experience. My emphasis has mainly been on affirmative reactions to human behavior and a strong attraction to the beauty in nature

Dennis Stock
© Dennis Stock | Magnum Photos

Dennis Stock was born in 1928 in New York City. At the age of 17, he left home to join the United States Navy.

In 1947, he became an apprentice to Life magazine photographer Gjon Mili and won first prize in Life’s Young Photographers contest. He joined Magnum in 1951.

Stock evoked the spirit of America through his memorable and iconic portraits of Hollywood stars, most notably James Dean. Other notable projects include his work on the jazz scene and on the California free-loving counterculture of the 1960’s.

In the 1990s he went back to his urban origins, exploring the modern architecture of large cities and his later work was mostly focused on the abstraction of flowers.

Dennis Stock resided in Woodstock, New York, until his death in 2010.

© Dennis Stock | Magnum Photos

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