The Biggest Photographer in America

He lives in the biggest house, he smokes the biggest stogie, he has the biggest feet. I met Jay once—Arthur Kramer introduced us. I'm sure I was a lot less memorable to Jay than Jay is to me. There are all sorts of this-er or that-est photographers, but Jay, the leading commercial pro of his generation and not even really a pro at heart, is just the biggest. He has a basketball court in his studio. In Manhattan. That's big.

This video has been out for a while, but Svein-Frode suggested it in the Comments to yesterday's post and today seems like a good day for it.

If the day comes when just a few humans are going to be allowed to live forever, I'm casting a vote for Jay.

Mike
(Thanks to Svein-Frode)

Original contents copyright 2013 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Amie Adams aka @mammaloves: "Thank you. I've needed inspiration lately. I stopped carrying my camera and I hate that. I need to find the joy again."

Jim Bullard: "He has an incredible eye. I know that is cliché but I don't know how else to say it. He sees photographs where no one else would. I'm not usually inclined to have heroes but he's an exception. He's just awesome."

Dennis: "Jay is my photographic idol—he's everything I'd love to be in a photographer. When it seems that every serious photographer does 'projects' or 'series' it's refreshing to see such a great photographer just going out with his eyes open and looking for things that will make great photographs. I don't buy other photographers works in print form (I buy books) but I'd love to own the shot that shows up first when you click on 'Recent Work' on his website—the cityscape with the Christmas lights on top of one roof. I've seriously toyed with the idea of spending $5k to attend his week-long workshop, but I know that as much as I'd enjoy it, I wouldn't have time to exploit the lessons learned."

Kenneth Tanaka: (partial comment): "Watching this profile today led me to the revelation that Jay has probably been one of the most powerful influences on my own photographic approach for many years. It never occurred to me that watching another short film of him many years ago really tattooed me with his brand of 'Look, it's all around you, dummy!' philosophy for finding images. But it really was not until today that I realized his influence on me. Perhaps I'll have the chance to meet him one day."

john crowley: "I think it's time for the 'Big Book of Jay.'"

Mike replies: Amen.

Comments

[John]

jay is amazing - i don't love everything he does but he's unbelievably prolific. he'll see more opportunities from here to the corner than i'll see all day.

i love how much he loves photography.

[David Paterson]

Wonderful, heart-warming; lessons there for all of us.

[Jeff]

"Go out as unprepared as possible." Sounds like a good project.

Here's an interview that might be of interest to some...

http://bermangraphics.com/press/jaymaisel.htm

[Sandy Rothberg]

Just looking at Jay's work can teach you to see.

[Ed]

I'll rather cast my vote for my mother and father, my niece, the neigbours dog, you, Lulu, your son, Ctein, and the rat in my sewer (it's a nice freindly critter that takes up no more space then she needs).

Greets, Ed.

P.S. what stuff you are smoking Mike? And can I get some.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

I've been aware of him for a long time, and it kind of looks like he's in competition with the Top Gear presenters for having the best job in the world (for the particular individuals; hence it's not just a straight competition). He does an amazing variety of stuff. And look at some of those used book prices on Amazon!

[KeithB]

Why does Peter Gabriel's "Big Time" keep running through my head?

[Roger Botting]

I saw Jay a couple of years ago at Photoshop World. He has a mouth like a longshore man and twice as funny as most standup comics. Well worth listening to.
And, he is very talented at making the business of photography look fun and easy.
Although he must really work hard at it.

[Clayton Ravsten]

How can you not appreciate a man...a photographer who takes so much joy in seeing and then captures it for all to enjoy. Thanks Mike for sharing this and letting us see...a great photographer.

[Steven ralser]

Interesting juxtaposition with his 2000mm lens and, if I remember correctly, wishing for the occasional exhibitionist and the present furore in NY about the photographer taking photos through people's windows

[Cyrus]

I know you don't want this to sound like an advert but 3 years ago I wound up spending a week in NY with Jay on one of his courses. Wow.
They don't make 'em like Jay any more.
Full of life, an ability to open your eyes and genuinely one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
It was a quite magical 7 days and my only regret was that I hadn't met him many many years before.

[garyi@estreet.com]

ever take a look at the list of the highest grossing movies of all time ?

[Ian]

Thanks Mike. That was inspirational; what an eye.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

This is a nice profile piece that I've seen previously.

I have never met Jay but I've been quite familiar with his work and, more pointedly, his approach to photography for many years. Watching this profile today led me to the revelation that Jay has probably been one of the most powerful influences on my own photographic approach for many years. It never occurred to me that watching another short film of him many years ago really tattooed me with his brand of 'Look, it's all around you, dummy!' philosophy for finding images.

But it really was not until today that I realized his influence on me. Perhaps I'll have the chance to meet him one day.

[James Sinks]

Amazing...that Jay made it seven minutes without dropping an F-bomb.

[Brian Thomas]

I love that Jay is one of the most successful street photographers of his time -- and yet he stands far outside the much proclaimed Street Photography Standards (SPS).

Most significantly, he is shooting most often with a 70-300mm FOV, when the SPS dictates a 28-50mm FOV. The others rules (film, Leica, B&W) are so commonly ignored they don't count that much. However, the FOV limits attributed to the example of Henry-Cartier Bresson are still gospel for thousands of street fans.

Personally, my street lenses just nudge a little at both ends of the HCB standards, so I'm not so much personally liberated by Jay Maisel's example as just pleased that someone else is breaking all the rules so I don't have to.

[plevyadophy]

I have never before heard of this guy.

Thanks for sharing.

The guy is awesome.

[Jack Foley]

Jay Maisel will live as long as his photographs exist and there are people to appreciate his art and his eye.

[misha marinsky]

I would like to recommend this biography of Jay Maisel:

http://uniquephotoinsider.wordpress.com/1999/06/22/jay-maisel/

[Craig Wilkinson]

I have always loved Jays work. Looking at his work it is easy to see why he is so successful. Seeing this makes me appreciate him even more.

[Dave Jenkins]

Can you believe that, with Maisel actually having lived and worked right there in New York for years, that Szarkowski could make the statement with a straight face that William Eggleston invented color photography?

[Armand]

Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing, Mike.

[Ed]

Wow, thanks for the introduction. I briefly looked at the course cost, added in hotel and airfare plus expenses and shook my head sadly. And I don't want whatever it is my namesake has been smoking, perhaps I'll spend the money on lottery tickets instead so I can afford a week in New York.

[Jock Elliott]

I love Jay Maisel's approach: take a camera everywhere, walk with your eyes open, shoot what moves you. It should be tatooed on every photographer's heart.

[Tom]

Thanks for the link Mike. Jay Maisel, Pete Turner and Ernst Haas among others have been an inspiration to me. They all share that joy of seeing.

[Rob Atkins]

I met jay at an Image Bank party back in the day. Sure enough, he showed up with an F4 on his shoulder.

There are three great books of his work: Light on America, Jay Maisel's New York, and Tribute, a collection of his images of the World Trade Center.

[Frank]

I love Jay for vigorously defending his copyright in spite of intimidation, here's the story: http://www.jeremynicholl.com/blog/2011/06/27/“jay-maisel-is-a-dick”-freetard-mob-savages-octogenarian-photographer-over-copyright/

[David Lonsdale]

He certainly conveys the joy of unplanned photography. It made me realise I've become too narrow minded in that I've restricted myself to a few categories of camera usage (motor sport and associated subjects) for the last few years. Thanks, Jay, I now resolve to go back and look for the opportunities afforded by the wider world. With a bit of luck and a life-span of of a couple of hundred years I, too, could eventually have a fabulous building in Manhattan!

[Bill]

I know that this is a silly and off the subject question, but I wonder what was that first digital camera which converted him?

[Josh]

Really?

I find his work to be mediocre, with a few nice images. I see far better and more consistently interesting around me in person on a regular basis.

[Mark K Lough]

Reminds me of what is in the book of Ernst Haas' photos - Color Correction. The great ones have their eyes in their hearts. Commercial work shows it, but they "always carry their cameras" and see everything.

[reg]

ok guys, take it easy! There is a long tradition in photography of talking! Am sure he is a great guy and has a nice place. But honestly, not a single shot I have seen made me go wow. And yes seeing is magical.

[Svein-Frode]

Bill, I think it was the Nikon D1.