Titled "One of the 100 most Important People in Photography" by American Photo Magazine, David Burnett's art encompasses many aspects of human life including portraits of the famous, action shots of Olympic sporting competitions and important worldwide events. Well known for an accomplished forty years as a photojournalist, Burnett's style is unique and dynamic.
Whitney Modern is proud to present two of Burnett’s famous series—The 1969 Apollo 11 Launch Party and the Bob Marley Series.
Apollo 11 Launch Party: In the early morning of July 16, 1969, any number of news photographers pointed their cameras at Apollo 11 as it lifted off, bound for the moon. But David Burnett stood with his back to the spaceship and with his lens focused on the gathered crowd. On assignment for Time, Burnett, then 22, had the inspiration to ignore the news itself and photograph the people watching the news happen. His now iconic photographs capture the heart and soul of a hopeful 1969 America.
Bob Marley: In 1976, Burnett was on assignment in Jamaica for Time magazine when he first photographed the reggae king at his home, Tuff Gong. Two weeks before landing in Jamaica, Burnett had never even heard of Marley. But what began as a feature on the indigenous music of Jamaica became an intimate portrait of Marley's life. He was so intrigued by Marley's persona, Burnett followed him to Europe for the famous "Exodus" tour for Rolling Stone. The intimate images of Marley present a more humanized look at this great legend and preserve the legacy of Bob Marley in a realm beyond just music.
