Dennis Stock was one of the most prolific photographers of the 20th century. He is best known for his work with actor James Dean. The majority of Dean’s most iconic photographs were produced by Stock, including the famous image of the young star trudging through Times Square in the rain (see below). After gaining recognition for that work, Stock went on to photograph subjects such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and President John F. Kennedy.
In the late 1950s, Stock honed in on the jazz scene, documenting stars like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. During the ’60s, Stock traveled around the United States capturing the essence of “counterculture,” most notably the burgeoning hippie movement. In his words, the photographer was priveleged to document “affirmative reactions to human behavior and pay strong attention to the beauty in nature.” American Cool, an anthology of Stock’s photography career, is available now and can be purchased here. Below is a sample of photos from the book.
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