Appreciation: The Photos of Irving Penn

Mud Men
The photographer works with natives of New Guinea during a visit to the South Pacific. In order to bring his technique to such a remote location, Penn created a portable studio that allowed him to take advantage of natural light and yet still create the isolation that could be achieved in a photo studio with a neutral background. The result is a series of images that explore and celebrate cultural differences. The photos were collected in the very influential volume, Worlds in a Small Room, published in 1974.

• Irving Penn, An Appreciation