on the street with bill cunningham

I don’t know Bill Cunningham. I only know what I’ve read and the recent documentary produced by Richard Press. But the general consensus seems to be that he’s an extraordinary person.
A person who lives on his own terms. If you don’t take the dollars, they can’t tell you what to do is probably one of my favorite Bill Cunningham quotes.

(If you’re reading this and don’t have a clue who I’m talking about, just pick up a New York Times Sunday paper and in the Styles section – on the street – you’ll find out. Born in 1929, Bill is a fashion photographer known for his candid street photography.)

Photographer…Perfectionist…Cyclist…Loner…Maverick…Visionary…many words have described this man. But it took a walk down Fifth Avenue and an encounter with Bill to see for myself. I was literally “on the street” with Bill Cunningham and the tables had been turned!

I’d read that when most of the popular, younger street photographers of today’s generation were seeking publicity in every possible way, this veteran photojournalist preferred to be invisible. And that’s exactly the way he came across. Gracious as gracious could be as all of his fans were eager to say hello, including myself. I watched him for a while, always taking the time to shake someones hand, to say thank you, or to give a friendly nod and smile. But if you watched him closely you could tell he was appreciative, but you just got the feeling being recognized was just a little too much for him and somewhat overwhelming at times.

I followed him for a while as he made his way down a few blocks. An exciting opportunity, watching the master at work.