Rodger, George
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[[Image:Rodger1.jpg|thumb|George Rodger (right) with war correspondent Robert Capa (left) in Vomero, Itlay, 1943.]] | [[Image:Rodger1.jpg|thumb|George Rodger (right) with war correspondent Robert Capa (left) in Vomero, Itlay, 1943.]] | ||
| − | '''George Rodger''' (1908-July 24, 1995) was a mainly self-taught [[Great Britain|British]] [[photojournalism|photojournalist]], who became famous for capturing on film the horrors of [[Second World War]], including the Blitz in [[ | + | '''George Rodger''' (1908-July 24, 1995) was a mainly self-taught [[Great Britain|British]] [[photojournalism|photojournalist]], who became famous for capturing on film the horrors of [[Second World War]], including the Blitz in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1939, and the first photographs of the death camps at [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp|Bergen-Belsen]] in at the end of the war in 1945. Yet perhaps his greatest accomplishments came later, as he shifted his photographic focus from war to humanitarian subjects in Africa, including [[Dr. Albert Schweitzer]], and various individuals and tribes in Sudan, Uganda, and South Africa. Rodger is probably best known for his documentation of the domestic life and customs of the Nuba tribe in Southern Sudan. Rodger travelled hundreds of thousands of miles over his lifetime, and his works have been published in all major picture magazines, including ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]''. Rodger joined Robert Capa in being a co-founding member of the Magnum Photos picture agency. Rodger is also a noteworthy photojournalist because of his reputation for personal integrity and commitment to humanitarian causes. |
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| − | '''George Rodger ''' was born in 1908 in [[Cheshire, Great Britain]] to a family of Scottish ancestry. Rodger was taken out of St. Bedes College at age seventeen by his parents, due to behavior problems. He worked on a farm for several months before joining the British [[British Merchant Navy|Merchant Navy]], where he sailed around the world twice from 1925-1929. While sailing, Rodger wrote accounts of his travels and taught himself photography to illustrate his travelogues. Rodger's true ambition was to become a writer, but he was unable to get his travel writing published. After working odd jobs in America during the [[Great | + | '''George Rodger''' was born in 1908 in [[Cheshire, Great Britain]] to a family of Scottish ancestry. Rodger was taken out of St. Bedes College at age seventeen by his parents, due to behavior problems. He worked on a farm for several months before joining the British [[British Merchant Navy|Merchant Navy]], where he sailed around the world twice from 1925-1929. While sailing, Rodger wrote accounts of his travels and taught himself photography to illustrate his travelogues. Rodger's true ambition was to become a writer, but he was unable to get his travel writing published. After working odd jobs in America during the [[Great Depression]], he returned to Britain in 1936. In London he was fortunate to find work as a photographer for the [[BBC]]'s ''[[The Listener (British magazine)|The Listener]]'' magazine, which was followed in 1938 by a brief stint working for the [[Black Star Agency]]. Rodger was married twice. Because of his spirit of adventure and passion for his work, Rodger spent long periods of time away from his first wife Cicely. |
| − | With the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], Rodger had a strong urge to chronicle the war. His photographs of [[the Blitz]] gained him a job as a war correspondent for ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine from 1939-1945. He covered the war in West Africa extensively and towards the end of the war followed the allied liberation of [[France]], [[Belgium]] | + | With the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], Rodger had a strong urge to chronicle the war. His photographs of [[the Blitz]] gained him a job as a war correspondent for ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine from 1939-1945. He covered the war in West Africa extensively and towards the end of the war followed the allied liberation of [[France]], [[Belgium]] , [[Netherlands|Holland]], and [[Germany]]. |
[[Image:Rodger,_Bergen-Belsen.jpg|thumb|One of the first photographs taken after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen in 1945]] | [[Image:Rodger,_Bergen-Belsen.jpg|thumb|One of the first photographs taken after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen in 1945]] | ||
He continued to work with “Life” magazine from 1945-1947 before being invited by his friend and famous photographer Robert Capa to be a co-founder member of [[Magnum Photos]] picture agency in 1947. Over the next thirty years worked as a [[freelance]] photographer, taking on 16 expeditions and assignments to photograph the people, landscape and nature of Africa. Much of Rodger's photojournalism in Africa was published in ''[[National Geographic]]'' as well as other magazines and newspapers. Roger finally stopped travelling in the 1980s, and died in Kent, [[Great Britain]] on July 24, 1995. | He continued to work with “Life” magazine from 1945-1947 before being invited by his friend and famous photographer Robert Capa to be a co-founder member of [[Magnum Photos]] picture agency in 1947. Over the next thirty years worked as a [[freelance]] photographer, taking on 16 expeditions and assignments to photograph the people, landscape and nature of Africa. Much of Rodger's photojournalism in Africa was published in ''[[National Geographic]]'' as well as other magazines and newspapers. Roger finally stopped travelling in the 1980s, and died in Kent, [[Great Britain]] on July 24, 1995. | ||
==Work== | ==Work== | ||
| − | Rodger’s main aim in life was to document and record events. Although his main passion was writing, he utilized | + | Rodger’s main aim in life was to document and record events. Although his main passion was writing, he utilized this writing ability to capture the essence of his powerful pictures with captions and notes. He was a self-taught photographer, learning valuable skills as he traveled throughout the world during the late 1920s with the British Merchant Marines. His first war photography started in the [[United Kingdom]], with the Blitz, then he covered the war in [[Burma]],[[ North Africa]],[[ Italy]], and [[France]]. He photographed the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 a few days after Germany's final surrender. Most notably, Rodger was the first photographer to enter the [[concentration camp]] at [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp|Bergen-Belsen]] in April 1945. His photographs of the few survivors and piles of corpses were published in ''Life'' and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazines and were highly influential in showing the reality of the death camps. These traumatic experiences lead Rodger to conclude that he could never work as a war correspondent again. Those images continued to haunt him for 50 years until his death in 1995. |
Rodger was especially interested in tribal rituals and culture in South Africa, Uganda, and Southern Sudan where his photographs remain a testimony to his life and work. In 1949, Rodger was granted permission to spend time with the Nuba tribe where he documented and observed their ancient way of life. His photos illustrate their sports such as spear-throwing, wrestling, and stick-fighting and he remarked that the Nubas were people whom "progress of any kind had passed by". He particularly was keenly interested in depicting how these so called ‘primitive’ tribes lived in a close relationship with nature. He returned to Africa another 15 times to make documentaries of several tribes. | Rodger was especially interested in tribal rituals and culture in South Africa, Uganda, and Southern Sudan where his photographs remain a testimony to his life and work. In 1949, Rodger was granted permission to spend time with the Nuba tribe where he documented and observed their ancient way of life. His photos illustrate their sports such as spear-throwing, wrestling, and stick-fighting and he remarked that the Nubas were people whom "progress of any kind had passed by". He particularly was keenly interested in depicting how these so called ‘primitive’ tribes lived in a close relationship with nature. He returned to Africa another 15 times to make documentaries of several tribes. | ||
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[[Image:Nuba.jpg|thumb|Nuba tribesmen photographed by George Rodger, circa 1955]] | [[Image:Nuba.jpg|thumb|Nuba tribesmen photographed by George Rodger, circa 1955]] | ||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | George Rodger is best known for his images of African culture and his photographic coverage of citizens during the Blitz in the United Kingdom during the [[Second World War]]. He is a prominent photojournalist who illustrated his humanitarian work and personal integrity in his powerful photographs. Rodger's photos fill a wide range from his unforgettable images | + | George Rodger is best known for his images of African culture and his photographic coverage of citizens during the Blitz in the United Kingdom during the [[Second World War]]. He is a prominent photojournalist who illustrated his humanitarian work and personal integrity in his powerful photographs. Rodger's photos fill a wide range from his unforgettable images from the [[Second World War]], African tribal rituals, and documenting the vanishing wildlife of Africa. Rodger’s later works emphasized how humans should live in harmony with nature. One of Rodger’s unique contributions to photojournalism was his personal integrity and commitment to humanitarian causes. One of the best illustrations of this was his famous picture of [[Dr. Albert Schweitzer]] with a kitten in his jungle hut in Africa. Rodger’s works continue to be showcased in photography exhibitions worldwide, poignantly depicting both man’s inhumanity and humanity. |
==Publications== | ==Publications== | ||
Revision as of 16:08, 19 August 2007
George Rodger (1908-July 24, 1995) was a mainly self-taught British photojournalist, who became famous for capturing on film the horrors of Second World War, including the Blitz in the United Kingdom in 1939, and the first photographs of the death camps at Bergen-Belsen in at the end of the war in 1945. Yet perhaps his greatest accomplishments came later, as he shifted his photographic focus from war to humanitarian subjects in Africa, including Dr. Albert Schweitzer, and various individuals and tribes in Sudan, Uganda, and South Africa. Rodger is probably best known for his documentation of the domestic life and customs of the Nuba tribe in Southern Sudan. Rodger travelled hundreds of thousands of miles over his lifetime, and his works have been published in all major picture magazines, including Life. Rodger joined Robert Capa in being a co-founding member of the Magnum Photos picture agency. Rodger is also a noteworthy photojournalist because of his reputation for personal integrity and commitment to humanitarian causes.
Life
George Rodger was born in 1908 in Cheshire, Great Britain to a family of Scottish ancestry. Rodger was taken out of St. Bedes College at age seventeen by his parents, due to behavior problems. He worked on a farm for several months before joining the British Merchant Navy, where he sailed around the world twice from 1925-1929. While sailing, Rodger wrote accounts of his travels and taught himself photography to illustrate his travelogues. Rodger's true ambition was to become a writer, but he was unable to get his travel writing published. After working odd jobs in America during the Great Depression, he returned to Britain in 1936. In London he was fortunate to find work as a photographer for the BBC's The Listener magazine, which was followed in 1938 by a brief stint working for the Black Star Agency. Rodger was married twice. Because of his spirit of adventure and passion for his work, Rodger spent long periods of time away from his first wife Cicely. With the outbreak of the Second World War, Rodger had a strong urge to chronicle the war. His photographs of the Blitz gained him a job as a war correspondent for Life magazine from 1939-1945. He covered the war in West Africa extensively and towards the end of the war followed the allied liberation of France, Belgium , Holland, and Germany.
He continued to work with “Life” magazine from 1945-1947 before being invited by his friend and famous photographer Robert Capa to be a co-founder member of Magnum Photos picture agency in 1947. Over the next thirty years worked as a freelance photographer, taking on 16 expeditions and assignments to photograph the people, landscape and nature of Africa. Much of Rodger's photojournalism in Africa was published in National Geographic as well as other magazines and newspapers. Roger finally stopped travelling in the 1980s, and died in Kent, Great Britain on July 24, 1995.
Work
Rodger’s main aim in life was to document and record events. Although his main passion was writing, he utilized this writing ability to capture the essence of his powerful pictures with captions and notes. He was a self-taught photographer, learning valuable skills as he traveled throughout the world during the late 1920s with the British Merchant Marines. His first war photography started in the United Kingdom, with the Blitz, then he covered the war in Burma,North Africa,Italy, and France. He photographed the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 a few days after Germany's final surrender. Most notably, Rodger was the first photographer to enter the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. His photographs of the few survivors and piles of corpses were published in Life and Time magazines and were highly influential in showing the reality of the death camps. These traumatic experiences lead Rodger to conclude that he could never work as a war correspondent again. Those images continued to haunt him for 50 years until his death in 1995. Rodger was especially interested in tribal rituals and culture in South Africa, Uganda, and Southern Sudan where his photographs remain a testimony to his life and work. In 1949, Rodger was granted permission to spend time with the Nuba tribe where he documented and observed their ancient way of life. His photos illustrate their sports such as spear-throwing, wrestling, and stick-fighting and he remarked that the Nubas were people whom "progress of any kind had passed by". He particularly was keenly interested in depicting how these so called ‘primitive’ tribes lived in a close relationship with nature. He returned to Africa another 15 times to make documentaries of several tribes.
Legacy
George Rodger is best known for his images of African culture and his photographic coverage of citizens during the Blitz in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is a prominent photojournalist who illustrated his humanitarian work and personal integrity in his powerful photographs. Rodger's photos fill a wide range from his unforgettable images from the Second World War, African tribal rituals, and documenting the vanishing wildlife of Africa. Rodger’s later works emphasized how humans should live in harmony with nature. One of Rodger’s unique contributions to photojournalism was his personal integrity and commitment to humanitarian causes. One of the best illustrations of this was his famous picture of Dr. Albert Schweitzer with a kitten in his jungle hut in Africa. Rodger’s works continue to be showcased in photography exhibitions worldwide, poignantly depicting both man’s inhumanity and humanity.
Publications
- Naggar,Carole.2003. George Rodger, An Adventure in Photography 1908-1995. New York:Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815607628 ISBN 978-0815607625.
- Rodger,George.1994. Humanity and Inhumanity.London: Phaidon Press. ISBN 0714831654 ISBN 978-0714831657.
- Rodger,George.1991. The Blitz:The Photography of George Rodger.Penguin. ISBN 0140145133 ISBN 978-0140145137.
- Rodger,George.1975.George Rodger(The Gordon Fraser photographic monographs ; 4).Gordon Fraser [for] the Arts Council of Great Britain. ISBN 090040647X ISBN 978-0900406478.
- Rodger,George.1987.George Rodger, Magnum opus: Fifty years in photojournalism.Nishen. ISBN 1853780006 ISBN 978-1853780004.
- Rodger,George.1999.Village of the Nubas(Contemporary Artists)London:Phaidon. ISBN 0714838403 ISBN 978-0714838403 .
- Rodger,George.1944.Far on the ringing plains;: 75,000 miles with a photo reporter.The Macmillan Co. ASIN B0007F84OW.
- Rodger,George.1943.Red Moon Rising.The Cresset Press. ASIN B0007J2WZU .
- Rodger,George.1946.The Desert Journey.Travel Book Club. ASIN B0007JHQG0.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- George Rodger, An Adventure in Photography
- Oxford Brookes University, George Rodger Exhibition
- life summary
External links
- Magnum biography
- (French)Sample portfolio of Rodger's WWII photographs
- Brunei Gallery, sample of Rodger's African photographs
- The Nuba Mountains Homepage
- George Rodger: An Adventure in Photography
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