PHILIPPE HALSMAN

Halsman is known for his photos with Salvador Dali and for his famous “Jump” photos. But he started his career as a photographer for fashion magazines, such as Vogue. Soon he gained a reputation as one of the best portrait photographers in France. He was renowned for his sharp, and closely cropped images. When France was invaded, Halsman fled to the U.S., aided by family friend Albert Einstein (whom he photographed in 1947).

There he met surrealist Salvador Dali and they began to collaborate in the late 40’s. Together they made several famous images. “Dali’s Mustache”, a book that features 36 different views of Dali’s distinctive mustache, is absolutely worthwhile looking at.
Halsman also discussed ways for photographers to produce unusual pieces of work by following six rules: "the rule of the direct approach," "the rule of the unusual technique," "the rule of the added unusual feature," "the rule of the missing feature," "the rule of compounded features," and "the rule of the literal or ideographic method."

I find Halsman very intriguing because he managed to transform a medium that could only capture reality, to a medium that could produce a surrealistic image. Even his portraits have that surrealistic feel. I would say Halsman is one of my all time favorite photographers. Everything he does, seems to appeal me.

Dali Atomicus, 1948

Alfred Hitchcock 

Mustache, 1954

Jump, 1959