Half Past Autumn - The Life and Works of Gordon Parks [DVD]

This was an informative video. I kind of knew what was going to be in it as it only expounds upon the book of the same name. I have always taught about Gordon Parks because his images went beyond bombastic to artistic, something a lot of young, contemporary artists need to see. As detailed in the video it was the lesson he learned from Roy Striker, you can't just take a picture and print the word bigot beneath it because it's more complicated than that, even bigots are real people and they may not look bad. As Parks puts it, what is in front of the camera is more important than what is behind it.He worked obviously for the FSA (and Striker), but also Vogue and Life going all over the world covering and getting stories in a humane way that made people understand what he was documenting. His artistic and fashion work shows he was at the top in those fields also, being experimental, not afraid to try to get new results and of course this influenced his journalistic work.I had heard he was musically inclined, but I had never actually associated any music besides "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes with Mr. Parks. It turns out he was an accomplished jazz pianist and classical composer (I wish I could find some of his compositions that are in the film to purchase). Of course I knew about "Shaft", but I did not realize he was also the author, director and composer for "The Learning Tree" or involved in a movie about Solomon Northcutt ("12 Years A Slave" is a retelling of the same story). I am also thinking about having advanced photography students read his "Choice of Weapons".Production quality is good as you would expect from someone of his caliber and like I said the music that goes along with it is good, but never overpowering the other content.

I would highly recommend this dvd. I loved it so much I share it with my friend. she and her husband both talked about buying this dvd for their own collection. It's a great resource. I learned so much and it really made me know this is the right field that I have choose. (photography) I love the places he travel to and the people he met on the way up. this information and his dvd lets you know it wasn't easy then and it's not easy now but at least hard work will finally pay off.

This documentary film covers aspects of Gordon Parks life that may not be generally known. One the most fascinating tools of this film is Gordon Parks intimacy- the film has a great deal of Gordon’s own voice and reflections as well as his family, colleagues and friends.

I ordered this after seeing a current exhibit at my local museum. It was sold in the museum gift shop but I knew that I could do better buy fromAmazon, and I did. It is plan wonderful. He shares so much about himself and was so talented. Although he has since passed, it allows you tonever forget how brilliant he was as an artist, photographer, moviemaker, etc.

Gordon Parks was a talent like no other, able to tell a story with a photograph or a film ("The Learning Tree", "Shaft"). He left a legacy through his work that's captured in this documentary. Thank you, Mr. Parks.

Great documentary. Learned so many new things! And the vocalise at the end introduced me to a powerful classical vocalist.

Just to see the relationship for more than 20 years between this incredible photographer and human being and Flavio, a poor kid from the "Favelas" at Rio de Janeiro, is enough for me to buy this wonderful documentary.Gordons Parks is a special man. His images are created in the most beautiful part of his heart, he just uses his camera to make them available to all of us.If you're a photographer like I'm, after see this retrospective of his work, you just want to have enough film in you pocket to go out there and make images that can be capable of make changes in the life of someone else.

This was purchased as a gift. The package arrived quickly and intact.The person who received the gift stated that this is exactly what they wanted and it was perfect!Also great price. Thank you.