Life Magazine was known for its large-format photojournalism. In 1984 I got the chance to make this television documentary about the history of Life. I did it by interviewing some of their greatest photojournalists.
At the height of its popularity, Life magazine was one of the most widely read publications in the United States. Its success was propelled by its unique blend of photojournalism, captivating human-interest stories and in-depth coverage of major world events. At its peak, in the late 1960s Life's weekly circulation reached more than 8.5 million copies.
Most readers received the magazine through subscriptions delivered to their homes. The magazine's wide distribution made it a staple in American households. At a time when television was still in its infancy, Life brought images from around the world into American living rooms. The magazine's 11×14 inches format provided an expansive canvas for its photographs. Life covered significant events including World War II, the civil rights movement, the space race, and the Vietnam War.
With the rise of television in the 1960s and changing reader habits, the weekly publication of Life magazine began to struggle. The magazine shifted formats several times, from weekly to monthly and then to special editions, before finally ceasing regular publication in 2000. Still, its legacy in photojournalism and its contribution to American culture remain significant.
Some of the photographers who I interviewed included:
Nina Leen was one of the first female photographers for Life magazine and became known for her diverse range of subjects, from American youth and societal trends to nature and animals. One of her most famous photo essays for Life documented the lives of teenage girls in the 1940s, offering a window into the youth culture of the era.
Edward Clark was a photojournalist best known for his work with Life magazine. Clark was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1911. He began his career in his hometown, working for the Nashville Tennessean. Later, he moved to New York City and joined Life magazine. One of Clark's most famous photographs is of a grief-stricken widow at the funeral of her husband, a WWII soldier. This image is a heart-wrenching depiction of the human cost of war, and it remains one of the magazine's most memorable covers.
Gordon Parks was a groundbreaking African American photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician. He is most well-known for his work with Life magazine, where he became the first African American staff photographer and writer. Parks' work documented American life and culture, focusing especially on issues of civil rights, poverty, and urban life. Born into poverty Parks faced numerous hardships in his youth, including racial discrimination. These experiences would heavily influence his work. Parks picked up a camera in a pawn shop and taught himself photography.
Loomis Dean was a noted photographer who worked for Life magazine for nearly two decades. Dean's time at Life coincided with the Golden Age of Hollywood. His assignments often sent him to capture candid moments of stars, behind-the-scenes activities on set, and glitzy Hollywood parties. Dean photographed a vast array of celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, and Salvador Dalí.
John Phillips photography during World War II is particularly noteworthy. Phillips was known for his daring. In the early stages of World War II, he even went behind enemy lines to capture the daily life under Nazi occupation, giving a unique perspective on the war's realities. After WWII, Phillips continued to document the aftermath and recovery process in Europe. He captured the devastation, the political shifts, and the gradual rebuilding of societies torn apart by the war.
Martha Holmes was a noteworthy photographer for Life magazine, particularly during an era when few women held such positions in mainstream media. Martha began her career in photography working for local newspapers before joining Life magazine in the 1940s. She was one of the few female photographers at the magazine at that time.
Carl Mydans was born in 1907 in Boston. He became one of the first staff photographers for Life magazine when it was founded in 1936. Mydans is best known for his coverage of World War II. He and his wife, who was a Life correspondent, were captured by Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1941 and spent nearly two years as prisoners of war. After their release in 1943, Mydans returned to the war front.
Life's dominant position in the American media landscape began to decline by the late 1960s and early 1970s. Competition from television, changing reader habits & rising postal rates (which affected delivery costs for subscriptions) contributed to its challenges. The weekly edition of Life ceased publication in 1972 though it had several reincarnations in the subsequent decades as special monthly editions & then later as occasional special issues.