Sammy Davis Jr - the photographer?

[jshelly]

Interesting story and pictures at NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9970003&ps=bb3

[DMG]

get the book it's pretty decent

[sienarot]

I agree, there's some really great stuff in that book.

[nikon_sam]

I looked through the entire book cover to cover while in the bookstore...I just may go back and buy it...nice pictures and neat stories...

[jshelly]

Especially interesting and funny is the audio clip from Sammy talking about his addiction to high priced camera equipment

[Gabriel M.A.]

It's always nice to have the star access that stars themselves have; it certainly makes for "interesting photography". But few are actually "photographers", imo.

One of them is Jeff Bridges:

http://fabulousbakers.tripod.com/ab/bakerboys/albums.html

[DMG]

Jeff Bridges site is pretty good Gabriel, I quite liked the Big Lebowski "other perspective" dream sequence shots.

[RichardB]

Having access to famous individuals certainly does help but it also takes some level of skill to surpass the 'candid' home snapshot image.
In Sammy Davis Jr's case, after viewing the referenced book, Sammy was a good photographer and the fact that he had access to famous individuals that were not posing for publicity makers the book even more interesting and valuable.
I don't praise very many books of this sort even when done by so called professionals but this is one book that is outstanding.-Dick

[Olsen]

"Davis ended his 1951 star-making performance at Ciro's nightclub in Los Angeles with an impression of Jerry Lewis that brought down the house. The two became fast friends.."

- I can imagine! Is any of this material filmed and available on video/DVD? I remember seeing a BBC TV David Frost interview in while studying in London back in the late 60' of Sammy. He did impressions of John Wayne, Humphry Bogart and Elvis Presley - which 'brought the house down'. Hilariously funny! What a talented guy.

[peterm1]

Photography has often attracted the interest of of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Brendan Fraser (star of the Mummy and many other movies) is a Leica fan who exhibits his work. Australian director Scott Hicks is likewise a keen Leica fan. And old time movie star Yul Brynner had many cameras including Leicas, Nikons and Pentaxes. (His daughter published a book of his photos a few years back.)