John G. Zimmerman
Encyclopedia
John Gerald Zimmerman, born 30 October 1927, Pacoima, CA - died 3 August 2002, Monterey, CA, was one of America's premier magazine photographers. His hallmarks of technical precision and innovation produced groundbreaking photographs and influenced a generation of photographers.
, taught him the basics and bought him a 4x5 view camera
. John G. joined a photographic hobby club in junior high school and spent afternoons developing film with friends in their mothers’ kitchens.
Zimmerman took a three-year photography course at John C. Fremont High School
in Los Angeles, where he was taught by Hollywood cinematographer Clarence Bach.
The course was one of few vocational programs of its kind in the country and launched the careers of six Life
photographers: Mark Kauffman, Bob Landry, John Florea, George Strock, John Dominis and Hank Walker.
After graduating high school, Zimmerman served as a Navy photographer. In 1950, he landed a job as a staff photographer at the Time
bureau in Washington D.C. His first assignment on November 1, 1950 demonstrated his capacity for capturing split-second action - Zimmerman was driving away from the White House with a group of photographers when two Puerto Rican Nationalists stormed nearby Blair House, attempting to assassinate President Truman
. Hearing gunshots, the photographers rushed out of the car. Only Zimmerman had a camera around his neck; the others had locked theirs in the trunk. Zimmerman got the first photos of the attack, which were featured in both Time and Life.
In 1952, Zimmerman moved to Atlanta. During his time there he shot a series of noteworthy assignments for Ebony
depicting the experiences of African Americans in the Jim Crow
South and the Midwest.
By 1954 he had moved to Detroit and was freelancing for Life
. One assignment required him to document Detroit’s old Mariners' Church
being moved to a new location across town. The building’s move took four weeks to complete, yet Zimmerman’s photo gives the effect of the church hurtling through downtown Detroit at top speed. The use of technology to show on film what the naked eye could never see would become a hallmark of Zimmerman’s work.
. Astor hired Zimmerman in 1956 as one of the magazine’s first staff photographers. Zimmerman was instrumental in making the magazine a vanguard of innovative sports photography. His use of unique camera placements, electronic lighting techniques, slit cameras
, remote controlled cameras, motor-driven camera sequences, and double-shutter designs revolutionized how sports were viewed. Many of Zimmerman’s camera innovations are commonplace today, but were unheard of at the time.
Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss
recalled watching Zimmerman edit photographs of basketball player Wilt Chamberlain in 1961. “It was the first time a photojournalist had placed a camera above the rim of a basket…it was like looking at something from another planet. It had never been done before. No one had seen the game from there.”
By the time Zimmerman left Sports Illustrated in 1963, he had assembled a portfolio that showed all the elements of his unique photographic style. He had discovered new ways to portray his subjects, often stretching and blurring his images to show the athletes in motion.
Zimmerman’s many photos from this period include Philadelphia Eagles
Chuck Bednarik
’s tackle of New York Giants
running back Frank Gifford
in 1960.
: politician Jerry Brown
, baseball player Rod Carew
, actress Diane Lane
and Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill
Photographing the Olympic Games
was a constant throughout his career. He covered six Summer Olympic Games
, starting with Melbourne in 1956 and ending in 1984, with four Winter Olympic Games
in between.
One of Zimmerman’s favorite Olympic assignments was taking the "Big Picture" for the LA Olympics
in 1984. A group portrait of 18,000 people, ranging from Mayor Tom Bradley
, local community leaders, celebrities, the City Ballet and L.A. Dodgers to the UCLA Football team, the Big Picture was a giant advertisement to welcome visitors and athletes to the Games. The Big Picture was transformed into a 30 x 80 ft. color billboard that was displayed at various places around the city.
On meeting Zimmerman in 1972 sports photographer Rich Clarkson
said "I had known and admired him for years, watching how he did things technically that no one had ever tried before - such as modifying a Hulcher
to produce beautiful pictures of runners with colors streaking from behind them as they ran. John did this at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Or. and believe it or not, he put up a black background and lights on a curve and did this very stylized illustration during an actual competition. The pictures were beautiful."
Beginning in the 1970s, Zimmerman worked in the more lucrative arena of print advertising and photographed major advertising campaigns for Marlboro, Ford, Chrysler, AT&T, Exxon, G.E., Pepsi and Coca Cola, among others.
Summing up Zimmerman’s career in a 2003 tribute, photographer Neil Leifer
wrote: “John was a master of lighting, whether the subject was a 20,000 seat arena or Christie Brinkley on a beach. He was at ease shooting in 35mm or large format, as adept with wide-angle lenses as he was with telephotos. I put him up there with Avedon, Leibovitz, Penn, and Adams.”
, the Newseum
and the Art Institute of Chicago
.
Early life and career
Zimmerman was interested in photography from an early age. His father, John L. Zimmerman, a gaffer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer StudiosMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
, taught him the basics and bought him a 4x5 view camera
View camera
The view camera is a type of camera first developed in the era of the Daguerreotype and still in use today, though with many refinements. It comprises a flexible bellows which forms a light-tight seal between two adjustable standards, one of which holds a lens, and the other a viewfinder or a...
. John G. joined a photographic hobby club in junior high school and spent afternoons developing film with friends in their mothers’ kitchens.
Zimmerman took a three-year photography course at John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont Senior High School is a Title 1 co-educational public high school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.Fremont is in a region known as South Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles, where he was taught by Hollywood cinematographer Clarence Bach.
The course was one of few vocational programs of its kind in the country and launched the careers of six Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
photographers: Mark Kauffman, Bob Landry, John Florea, George Strock, John Dominis and Hank Walker.
After graduating high school, Zimmerman served as a Navy photographer. In 1950, he landed a job as a staff photographer at the Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
bureau in Washington D.C. His first assignment on November 1, 1950 demonstrated his capacity for capturing split-second action - Zimmerman was driving away from the White House with a group of photographers when two Puerto Rican Nationalists stormed nearby Blair House, attempting to assassinate President Truman
Truman assassination attempt
The assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman occurred on November 1, 1950. It was perpetrated by two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, while the President resided at the Blair House. The attempt resulted in the deaths of White House Police...
. Hearing gunshots, the photographers rushed out of the car. Only Zimmerman had a camera around his neck; the others had locked theirs in the trunk. Zimmerman got the first photos of the attack, which were featured in both Time and Life.
In 1952, Zimmerman moved to Atlanta. During his time there he shot a series of noteworthy assignments for Ebony
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
depicting the experiences of African Americans in the Jim Crow
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
South and the Midwest.
By 1954 he had moved to Detroit and was freelancing for Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
. One assignment required him to document Detroit’s old Mariners' Church
Mariners' Church
Mariners' Church of Detroit is a church adhering to Anglican liturgical traditions located at 170 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, United States...
being moved to a new location across town. The building’s move took four weeks to complete, yet Zimmerman’s photo gives the effect of the church hurtling through downtown Detroit at top speed. The use of technology to show on film what the naked eye could never see would become a hallmark of Zimmerman’s work.
Sports Illustrated, 1956-1963
Zimmerman’s approach caught the eye of Gerald Astor, Picture Editor of the newly founded Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. Astor hired Zimmerman in 1956 as one of the magazine’s first staff photographers. Zimmerman was instrumental in making the magazine a vanguard of innovative sports photography. His use of unique camera placements, electronic lighting techniques, slit cameras
Photo finish
A photo finish occurs in a sporting race, when two competitors cross the finishing line at near the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to discriminate between which of the competitors crossed the line first, a strip photo, a series of rapidly triggered photographs, or a video taken at the...
, remote controlled cameras, motor-driven camera sequences, and double-shutter designs revolutionized how sports were viewed. Many of Zimmerman’s camera innovations are commonplace today, but were unheard of at the time.
Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss
Walter Iooss
Walter Iooss Jr. is a professional photographer.He is best known for his work with Sports Illustrated magazine, which has featured his photos on its cover several times and for his portraits of famous athletes such as Michael Jordan, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Ken Griffey, Jr....
recalled watching Zimmerman edit photographs of basketball player Wilt Chamberlain in 1961. “It was the first time a photojournalist had placed a camera above the rim of a basket…it was like looking at something from another planet. It had never been done before. No one had seen the game from there.”
By the time Zimmerman left Sports Illustrated in 1963, he had assembled a portfolio that showed all the elements of his unique photographic style. He had discovered new ways to portray his subjects, often stretching and blurring his images to show the athletes in motion.
Zimmerman’s many photos from this period include Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik
Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
’s tackle of New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
in 1960.
Editorial and commercial work, 1964-1991
From 1964 until his retirement in 1991, Zimmerman worked for all the major magazines, covering notable subjects from every aspect of American popular culture. Four of his Time covers are in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait GalleryNational Portrait Gallery (United States)
The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in Washington, D.C., administered by the Smithsonian Institution. Its collections focus on images of famous individual Americans.-Building:...
: politician Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
, baseball player Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
, actress Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Diane Lane is an American film actress.Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at the age of 13 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance, starring opposite Sir Laurence Olivier. Soon after, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine...
and Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...
Photographing the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
was a constant throughout his career. He covered six Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
, starting with Melbourne in 1956 and ending in 1984, with four Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
in between.
One of Zimmerman’s favorite Olympic assignments was taking the "Big Picture" for the LA Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in 1984. A group portrait of 18,000 people, ranging from Mayor Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley (politician)
Thomas J. "Tom" Bradley was the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving in that office from 1973 to 1993. He was the first and to date only African American mayor of Los Angeles...
, local community leaders, celebrities, the City Ballet and L.A. Dodgers to the UCLA Football team, the Big Picture was a giant advertisement to welcome visitors and athletes to the Games. The Big Picture was transformed into a 30 x 80 ft. color billboard that was displayed at various places around the city.
On meeting Zimmerman in 1972 sports photographer Rich Clarkson
Rich Clarkson
Rich Clarkson is a Denver, Colorado based photographer. Rich owns the photography and publishing company Rich Clarkson and Associates, LLC. Clarkson is a former Director of Photography at the National Geographic magazine and was a contract photographer for Sports Illustrated magazine for several...
said "I had known and admired him for years, watching how he did things technically that no one had ever tried before - such as modifying a Hulcher
Hulcherama
The Hulcherama is a shutterless, motor-controlled panoramic camera designed and manufactured by the Charles A. Hulcher Company, Inc. in Hampton, Virginia....
to produce beautiful pictures of runners with colors streaking from behind them as they ran. John did this at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Or. and believe it or not, he put up a black background and lights on a curve and did this very stylized illustration during an actual competition. The pictures were beautiful."
Beginning in the 1970s, Zimmerman worked in the more lucrative arena of print advertising and photographed major advertising campaigns for Marlboro, Ford, Chrysler, AT&T, Exxon, G.E., Pepsi and Coca Cola, among others.
Summing up Zimmerman’s career in a 2003 tribute, photographer Neil Leifer
Neil Leifer
Neil Leifer is a photographer and filmmaker known mainly for his work in the Time Inc. family of magazines. He is generally considered the greatest sports photographer in history.- Early career :...
wrote: “John was a master of lighting, whether the subject was a 20,000 seat arena or Christie Brinkley on a beach. He was at ease shooting in 35mm or large format, as adept with wide-angle lenses as he was with telephotos. I put him up there with Avedon, Leibovitz, Penn, and Adams.”
Sports Illustrated
- Ann MarstonAnn Penelope MarstonAnn Penelope Marston was an unrivaled archery champion prior to her death from stroke, caused by complications of diabetes, at age 32. She was the U.S.A. National Archery Champion from 1949-1960....
,1955 - Silky SullivanSilky SullivanSilky Sullivan was an American thoroughbred race horse best known for his come-from-behind racing style...
, 1958 - Barbara McAlisterBarbara McAlisterBarbara McAlister is an American diver. She won a gold medal in springboard diving at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo.She was featured on the cover of the magazine Sports Illustrated July 23, 1962 .-References:...
, 1962 - Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
,1962 - Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
,1962 - Jim NashJim NashJames Edwin Nash , commonly nicknamed Jim Nash, is a retired American professional baseball pitcher. He debuted on July 3, 1966 against the Detroit Tigers after then Kansas City Athletics signed him as a free agent...
,1967 - Tracy AustinTracy AustinTracy Ann Austin Holt is a former World No. 1 female professional tennis player from the United States who won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980, before a series of injuries cut her career short.-To 1980:Austin defeated...
,1976 - Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
,1977 - John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
,1978 - Frank GiffordFrank GiffordFrancis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
,1997
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
- Christie BrinkleyChristie BrinkleyChristie Brinkley is an American model and actress best known for her three consecutive appearances on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the late 1970s and early 1980s, for her long-running contract with CoverGirl, the longest ever of any model in history, and for her marriage...
,1980, 1981 - Elle MacPhersonElle MacphersonElle Macpherson is an Australian model, actress, and businesswoman nicknamed "The Body". She is perhaps best known for her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s...
,1987 - Carol AltCarol AltCarol Ann Alt is an American model and actress.- Early life:Alt was born in Flushing, Queens, New York, the daughter of Muriel, an airline employee and model, and Anthony Alt, a fire chief. She was noticed waiting tables in her hometown of East Williston, New York. When she was 18, she decided to...
,1982
Books
- Masters of Contemporary Photography: Photographing Sports. Capturing the Excitement of People in Action John G. Zimmerman, Mark Kauffman & Neil Leifer (Alskog, 1975, ISBN 0871000946).
- The Great Life Photographers (ISBN 0316097934)
- Sports Illustrateds The Hockey Book (ISBN 1603201513)
Museums
Zimmerman's work has been exhibited at numerous museums, including the International Center of PhotographyInternational Center of Photography
The International Center of Photography is a photography museum, school, and research center in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
, the Newseum
Newseum
The Newseum is an interactive museum of news and journalism located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. The seven-level, museum features 15 theaters and 14 galleries. The Newseum's Berlin Wall Gallery includes the largest display of sections of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany...
and the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
.