J.B. Forbes Has Retired

[Ed. Note: The primary purpose of this post is a link to a portfolio by an American newspaper photographer, and the link appears to be inaccessible from other areas of the world. The video however is available on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/STLPD/videos/234414541362864 (thanks to Dave_lumb and Sean for this). —Mike the Ed.]

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Photojournalism isn't art. Or rather art photography. It doesn't have the unity of vision of art photography, the subtlety and individuality of purpose or consistency of style. As far as feeling-tone is concerned, sometimes photojournalism clubs you over the head with sentiment. But at its best, there's a vigor to photojournalism that's tough to beat—there's always meaning, and usually, significance. You come away from it with your feathers flustered, feeling like you've been jostled by human contact and touched by the energy of that. You've had an encounter with the world.

It's really nice to be writing this and linking to this when it isn't an obituary, by the way. Too often we only grant a flurry of notice and attentiveness to someone when they die. By which time they are, under most belief systems anyway, unable to appreciate it. Ever notice how death notices are sometimes the first you ever hear of a person? Sad when that happens.

But in this case it's only a retirement—Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame member J.B. Forbes has retired after 45 years as a photojournalist at four newspapers, most recently as Chief Photographer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Upside-down Ozzie
As you know, TOP takes (that is to say, I take) the day off on Saturday. It's the day of the week we get the least visits. So I sometimes make an effort to leave you with something to chew on that'll hold you for the weekend.

Perhaps never more so than this. Check out this portfolio and video of some of the highlights of J.B. Forbes' career:

"The stories behind the images: The photos of J.B. Forbes"

Although I never knew his name, I'm amazed by how many of these photographs I know. I have a good visual memory (not so good with names, numbers, or the exact wording of quotes—my editor friend Jim Schley has great retention for exact quotes). I do remember pictures, though. Often for a long time. I'm almost sure I haven't seen upside-down Ozzie Smith since around the time it was taken, but I've always remembered it. I know I've seen many of the photos in this portfolio before. The fireman and the little boy who wouldn't let go of him, with its particularly poignant caption; Spinks landing one on Ali; the prisoners playing dominoes; the girl with the tears in her eyes; that distinctive pose of an energetic candidate Barack Obama; the child holding the AK-47; the young boy watching the couple kiss on the statue; Harry Carey and Jack Buck. I'll bet I haven't seen a lot of these since they were taken, but they're still old friends.

And some new ones, too. I especially like the one of the deer in the graveyard. That scene has a graceful gentleness about it, doesn't it? And the one of the two soldiers on the snowy road with "Santa" in red beside them.

Anyway, this weekend, if you have a spare hour, take a leisurely look through this portfolio and watch the video (I watched in installments). I bet you'll find something to appreciate.

I'm sure we all wish J.B. Forbes a long and productive retirement! Maybe photojournalism isn't art—but hey, art isn't photojournalism, either.  :-)

Have a nice weekend! See you on Sunday.

Mike
(Thanks to Ray Hunter)

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Original contents copyright 2021 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.

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

John Robison: "What a treat. Thanks for that link. My favorite was the night shot of the St.Lewis arch with the snow falling. But really, what a great body of work."

Larry Wilkins: "I think the photo of the coffin of the Franciscan friar, Rev. Valerian Schott, in the grave is just about perfect. Thanks for the link."

DB: "A spectacular portfolio and career. Thanks for posting, Mike."

Hugh Lovell: "A stunning collection of images by J.B. Forbes, many overruning with emotion. Thank you for the link."

Comments

[Albert Smith]

"Photojournalism isn't art..."

Could have fooled me. I'd hang the lightning over the cemetery or the snow and Gateway Arch and several others on the wall.

What a diverse career!

[Richard Parkin]

Link not available in the U.K. because we are “in the EEA” and “subject to the GDPR” which I think is not entirely accurate, however if the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is so intent on misusing my data I’m happy not to go there ;-). Shame.

[David Goldenberg]

r.e. the Product o' the Week, I am rather skeptical that USBOverdrive, or most other software, can break a Mac, though it could likely cause a crash under some circumstances. I know that the use of this program is correlated with the breaking of your computer, but correlation is not causation!
Long ago, I used USBOverdrive but switched to https://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/ during a period when USBOverdrive seemed not to be well supported by the developer. I have very good experiences with Steermouse, and I see that the Evoluent vertical mice are among those that are recommended by the developer.
David

[Dave Jenkins]

“Photojournalism isn’t art.” But isn’t it amazing how many of the photographs that are considered art today began life as documentary or journalistic photographs?

[Dave Stewart]

Alas, not for some... even if we're no longer part of the EU, though do still enforce GDPR.

"451: Unavailable due to legal reasons

We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time."

[Sorry about that... --Mike]

[John Camp]

The May 24, 2011 photo of tornado damage looks remarkably like a Jackson Pollock painting. There are some beauties among these, and, IMHO, a collection of the best photojournalism shots would outdo a collection of the best art shots any day. That's probably just me.

[Eliott D James]

You know, in its own way this is a collection of art in photography. My opinion.
Eliott

[Steve Rosenblum]

Thanks for this. Wonderful photographs.

[Rob de Loe]

That was enjoyable. For some reason I was expecting black and white. The colour photography was a nice surprise. I also enjoyed noticing the difference between the film and digital work.

[David Lee]

Thanks for the link, Mike. Amazing photos and nice interview.
First thing I do when I watch this made from home interviews that abound since last year, is trying to see what kind of books or art or decorations people have around them. I noticed a nice ceramic plate with a bullfighting scene behind Mr.Forbes. He is obviously an aficionado.

[Bob Johnston]

Get a VPN. Then you can access any site in the world.

[Dave_lumb]

I think I found it on Facebook after getting the GDPR nonsense.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=234414541362864&ref=watch_permalink

[Nikojorj]

Alas, it's inaccessible from Europe... There are only a few at http://www.photojournalismhalloffame.org/j-b-forbes

[Markus Spring]

"451: Unavailable due to legal reasons ..." is just a disguised way of expressing "we want to spy on you, sell your data and don't want to allow you to decide yourself if you approve our use of cookies or other tracking mechanisms.

So I should be glad that this content is not available in countries that respect the right of their citizens to regulate intrusions into their privacy.

That said, I would have well been interested in J.B. Forbes' photography. At least photojournalismhalloffame.org shows some examples. Expressive work, especially the b&w ones

[Franz Amador]

I'm in the U.S., and I can't see it, either. I don't get that notice, but I do get lots and lots of ads and no real content.

[Richard Parkin]

He even has a Flickr page but all the photos are ‘Private’! Landscapes though so possibly not for work.

[Hugh Lovell]

A stunning collection of images by J.B. Forbes, many overruning with emotion. Thank you for the link.

[Michael J. Perini]

It seems a little harsh to me to lead with ' Photojournalism is not Art'. Most Photography -no matter the category-does not rise to the level of Art, but some does.
The category or classification shouldn't matter. Some work rises to that level , most doesn't. If I call myself a "Fine Art" Photographer do I have a better chance? I hope not.
Should MoMA get rid of all those Robert Capa pix? I don't think so.
I've heard people say the Advertising pictures aren't Art, and again, most aren't, but then there is Penn or Paul Outerbridge (and others)
Mr. Forbes' work is beautiful , I enjoyed it, thank you.

[jim woodard]

If great photojournalism is not art then neither is literature, poetry, or film. And they must have really screwed up with Bob Dylan!

[Mani Sitaraman]

That is just a wonderful treat to go through. Thank you, Mike, for posting it.

What a body of high quality work, created over the course of a working lifetime! Happy retirement, Mr. Forbes.

[JOHN B GILLOOLY]

Finally got a chance to run through those images - what a legacy! Some consistently great work over many years.