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Documentary To Premiere On John Shearer, Brilliant Photographer Who Captured Funerals Of JFK And MLK Jr., Attica Uprising And More
A short documentary, John Shearer: American Moments, will premiere in Newport, Rhode Island, on 30 July, celebrating the late Black photographer whose work recorded major American events of the 1960s and 1970s. The film seeks to restore recognition for Shearer, whose images combined close access to historic moments with an empathetic perspective and whose achievements had become relatively overlooked.
Directed by James Spione, the film includes photographs of the funerals of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the Attica uprising, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and wider social unrest. Shearer became only the second African American staff photographer at LIFE magazine, following mentor Gordon Parks; the documentary was filmed during his final year and features music by his daughter, jazz saxophonist Alison Shearer.
In short
- Documentary honours pioneering photographer John Shearer.
- It premieres in Newport on 30 July.
- Shearer captured defining American events.
Explained simply
John Shearer was a Black photographer whose work documented some of the most significant moments in American history during the 1960s and 1970s. He became only the second African American staff photographer at LIFE magazine, one of the most influential publications of the era, following in the footsteps of the renowned photographer Gordon Parks.
Shearer's photographs captured pivotal events including the state funerals of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Attica prison uprising, and various aspects of the American sporting and social landscape. His work was distinguished by his ability to gain close access to historic moments whilst maintaining an empathetic and human-centred approach to his subjects.
Despite the importance of his work, Shearer's achievements became relatively overlooked over time. A new documentary seeks to restore recognition of his contributions to photojournalism and American visual history, bringing his legacy back to public attention.
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