Like so many great photographers - Brassaï, André Kertész, Robert Capa, Martin Munkácsi, Eva Besnyö, among others - Michael Peto was Hungarian. Working in Paris and London after the War, he did some great photojournalism work, but I admire his portraits above the rest of his work. Here are some of my favourites.
Samuel Beckett in his Paris apartment at 38 Boulevard St. Jacques, commissioned by The Observer. Michael Peto took this in May 1961.
Iris Murdoch by Michael Peto, June 1962
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton by Michael Peto, March 1964
The Beatles and Richard Lester at Cliveden House. Peto took this shot during the filming of Help, on April 12, 1965.
Ian McKellen by Michael Peto, December 1969
George Harrison by Michael Peto, 1965
Louis Armstrong at the Empress Hall in London in 1956. Peto's portrait shows Satchmo in the Armstrong tartan that was made for him in Glasgow.
Brendan and Beatrice Behan by Michael Peto, 1959
Michael Peto's portrait of Nelson Mandela, taken in the London home of Oliver Tambo, 1962, Two years later Mandela was arrested and imprisoned.
Michael Peto's self-portrait, 1948
Michael Peto by the late Marilyn Stafford, London, c. 1965
"Michael generously introduced me to The Observer where he was a staff photographer, and we became good friends."
No comments:
Post a Comment