Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/784242
Capturing Mid-Century America in Black and White The Photographs of John G. Zimmerman B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D he Monterey Peninsula has been home to many fine, innovative photographers. The names Adams and Weston immediately come to mind. A new book, "America in Black and White," sheds a strobe light on another lens- man, one many in the community may not be aware of. John G. Zimmerman retired to a Spanish Bay condo in Pebble Beach with his wife Delores in 1989 after a prolific career that spanned more than four decades. His oeuvre includes fashion, sports, advertis- ing, human interest and magazine work for clients such as Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Time, Sports Illustrated and Ebony. Celebrity sub- jects who appeared in his viewfinder included Christie Brinkley, Joe Louis, Wilt Chamberlain, Andy Warhol, Hugh Hefner, Elle MacPherson, Arnold Palmer, Dorothy Hamill, Bing Crosby, the Beatles and Nat "King" Cole, among many others. While many of those familiar faces appear in the pages of "America in Black and White," it is the images of everyday people engaged in everyday activities that are perhaps the most striking and memorable. The cover of the book is adorned with a powerful aerial shot of sol- diers engaged in cleaning the world's largest American flag in 1955 Detroit in a composition that is at once journalistic and artful. Some images delve deep into the psyche of their sub- jects, such as those of African American Matt he Monterey Peninsula has been home to many fine, innovative photographers. The names Adams and Weston immediately come to mind. A new book, "America in Black and T 162 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 Joe Louis with friends at Motor City Gym in Detroit, Michigan, 1955. Photo: © John G. Zimmerman Archive