Folks:

I've just exchanged correspondence with Ron Seymour, photographer and son of the imminent Chicago dance photographer Maurice Seymour, creator of so many memorable dance images in the 40's and 50's.

Anyone remember Maurice or his dance photography?

King

Certainly! But I recall once being told that Maurice Seymour was actually two people, brothers with the names Maurice and Seymour?

I found a book of his photos in our second-hand bookshop, and gave it to my daughter for her birthday. I thought it was really, really neat. She, alas, thought it was a beat-up old book. What do 14-year-olds know?

I most certainly do know Maurice Seymour, or at least know his work. Although there are excellent photographers working today, who are able to take performance images that capture the dynamics of the moment without becoming too high-contrast or blurry to reproduce well on newsprint, it seems that fewer artists have the money or the time to invest in good studio photos. When people ask me what I'm talking about, I often show them work by Seymour, with his beautiful palette of gray tones.