Charles Cushman

I heard a fascinating story today on NPR about amateur photographer Charles Cushman.  Charles was an Indiana native who loved to travel and take color photos- in the 1940's!  He was an ardent user of Kodachrome, one of the world's first color films, which at the time was extremely expensive and hard to come by.  His 14,500 (!) photograph slides were bequeathed to the college from which he graduated, Indiana University, upon his death in 1972.  An excerpt from Mail Online about his New York City photos reads:  

He went around the city taking photos of architecture such as the Brooklyn Bridge and other parts of the Manhattan skyline - and it’s hard to believe they were taken while World War Two was going on. But what is even more intriguing are the street scenes and daily life Cushman documented in his photos, showing 1940s New Yorkers going about their daily business.  The images are even more significant at a time when Americans are remembering the fallen World Trade Center, showing that a city ultimately transcends its buildings.

Here are some of my favorites: Enjoy!

Plus, a story about photographer Steve McCurry: he heard Kodak was going to discontinue Kodachrome, and asked for the last roll of film.  They gave it to him, and you can read about his trip east and see the photos here.