One of the Legends

Peter Adams hefty tone arrived a little while back. It weighs a tonne. 4.9 kg to be exact. I think it is even too heavy for my lap. 608 pages, 150,000 words, and over 500 iconic photographs. Titled ‘A few of the Legends’. It is the culmination of a life long project to photograph photographers. He interviews each one and has created an incredible document of his life and many of the worlds greatest photographers. It includes iconic images taken by each of the photographers, and beautiful insights into their thoughts and life. I so love that he says that interviewing all these amazing people taught him so much.

When I was a teenager we used the descriptor ‘Legend’ and bestowed it on each other whenever we thought their actions would be attached to our own histories. In essence it was an incredible accolade to achieve within our group. The smile it would bring to us when someone else declared them a legend in the group was so heartwarming. So being included in a book of legends is an incredibly important achievement for me personally.

I can clearly remember how over the moon I was when Peter asked me five or so years ago. It was so lovely to be apart of his creative process. I learnt as I experienced his years of portraiture experience.

To be in a book with Peter Dombrovskis, Olive Cotton, David Moore, Trent Parke, Bill Henson, Ruth Bernhard, Eve Arnold, Elliot Erwitt, Paul Caponigro, Sally Mann, David Bailey, Bill Jay, David Hockney, Yousuf Karsh, Micheal Kenna, Lewis Morley (who opened my first art gallery in Katoomba), Max Dupain, Annie Leibovitz, Joyce Tennyson, Helmet Newton, Martin Parr, Ted Orlando, Beaumont Newhall, Sebastian Salgado, Lord Snowden, Robert Adams, Larry Fink and Robert McFarlane. Just to name a few of my personal photographic heroes.

So many of these great artists sit in beautiful monographs on my bookshelf that I pour over regularly. I have to keep pinching myself to be included with such amazing photographers. This has been a secret quest for so many years.

Peter, I am truely honoured and feel blessed at being included. Besides you have undoubtedly created my favourite portrait of me I have.

This is the most comprehensive and rich collection of photographers that has ever been produced. A true lifetime project. Peter you are to be congratulated on what you have achieved. Not only will I have years of reading ahead of me but a beautiful document to cherish and keep. Your skill as a portrait photographer is mesmerising.

I am humbled and honoured to be included as one of the legends. Thank you.

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Text copyright © Len Metcalf 2021