Archives65 years of photographing
All about love: New photos from The Harold Feinstein Archive for Valentine’s Day 2024 - by Judith Thompson
It’s Valentine’s Day and I wanted to put out a short post sharing a few new images from the studio that share the way the Harold saw and honored love. It the primary impetus behind all of his work. Here is a 35 second audio clip where he talks about seeing with the eyes of… Continue reading
Fatherly Inheritances: Father’s Day 2021 - by Judith Thompson
If you’ve seen the film Last Stop Coney Island: The Life and Photography of Harold Feinstein, you will know that Harold’s relationship with his own father was a difficult one. Louis Feinstein suffered from alcoholism and Harold often spoke about the fear he felt around him, the beatings and druken rages. It was a huge… Continue reading
What to remember: Reflections on Memorial Day 2021 - by Judith Thompson
Unquestionably war has touched us all. Every single person, no matter who they are or where they live, has been touched by war. Scars from the traumas of war are passed down throughout generations and layered with new scars as the self-perpetuating cycles of war and violence continue to be fueled partly by the unhealed… Continue reading
Different kinds of war: Reflections on Memorial Day 2020 - by Judith Thompson
As I looked through Harold’s Draftee series for some appropriate photographs to share on this 2020 Memorial Day observance, the irony of the one above did not escape me. This GI is getting inoculated in both arms as a way to prepare for the war overseas. Harold went off to Korea in 1952. Approximately 35,000… Continue reading
Prints and printmaking, part 2: The allure of the darkroom - by Judith Thompson
It seems appropriate to publish this second post in the series on Prints and Printmaking shortly after the Kodakery podcast, The Life and Work of Harold Feinstein with Andy Dunn and Carrie Scott published two weeks ago. After all, when Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012, the notion that a new film camera might enter… Continue reading
“They were all missing someone”: Harold Feinstein’s Korean photographs, Veteran’s Day 2019 - by Judith Thompson
Harold was drafted into the infantry and sent off to Korea when he was 22 years old. He had a new wife, had sold prints to Steichen at MOMA and was just getting into his stride as an up and coming young photographer in the heady days of the early 50’s in New York. And then he was yanked into the draft and sent off to Korea.
“It’ll always be the first kiss”: Memories for Valentine’s Day 2019 - by Judith Thompson
Harold liked to say: “It will always be the first kiss” when he talked about his love of life. I was blessed with a 27 year marriage to someone who never let me forget how much he loved me; who maintained a consistent appreciation of life — and of me! As he got older, he… Continue reading
Coney Island: All colors and every language under the sun! - by Judith Thompson
“When people come to this country and they see the Statue of Liberty, I think there should be a sign there that says ‘Come with me to Coney Island first!’ Because whatever New York is to the United States, Coney Island is to New York. It’s a multitude of all colors and every language under… Continue reading
W. Eugene Smith, Ed Thompson and the battle for creative control: A play in multiple acts - by Judith Thompson
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts.” William Shakespeare, from “As you Like It” Several months ago I received a few emails from friends pointing me to a highly entertaining blogpost written by… Continue reading
“Celebrating Feinstein’s Lasting Impression! “: From the Boston Globe - by Judith Thompson
“At this particular moment, there’s something important about looking at those [Coney Island] pictures. They show such a wonderful mix of people, different classes, ages, and races coming together. At some level, that seems to be missing from American culture at this moment.” So says Sarah Kennel, photography curator at the Peabody Essex Museum who… Continue reading