Kurt Vonnegut says black-and-white photography shows “character”
Kurt Vonnegut owned a town house around the corner from the East Side Manhattan office building where I worked. He’d often be seen outside the office building on a bench, smoking cigarettes and looking like he had no place else to be (which was, of course, far from the truth). Sightings of the now-deceased author were frequent, but unpredictable. (His official Web site: www.vonnegut.com/)
When I learned he was my Nephew’s favorite author, I bought a hardcover of Slaughterhouse-Five and kept it in my office for a long time, until I saw Mr. Vonnegut outside one day (in August 2005). I bolted in, nearly breaching the post-9/11 security, and rushed to my office to grab the book, and ran back down to ask for his autograph.
I’d been told he didn’t like to be bothered, but I was willing to try. Besides, I had a plan if things got tense.
I apologized for disturbing him and explained what a big fan he had in my Nephew, and would he mind terribly. He couldn’t have been nicer. He drew his famous self-caricature that he did with most autographs (above), and inscribed the book to my Nephew by name.
But I used my emergency plan anyway, and asked after Mrs. Vonnegut. (Also known as photographer and author Jill Krementz, quite famous for her Leica black-and-white portraits of authors, and for her photo books, including the bestseller A Very Young Dancer. See some of her B&W work here: http://www.marktwainhouse.org/exhibitions/photos.shtml)
“She’s fine,” he said, seeming to appreciate my interest.
“She’s a wonderful photographer,” I offered.
“Yes; you know, she shoots mostly black-and-white,” Vonnegut added.
“I know,” I quickly and proudly interjected, interrupting him, “so do I!”
“Well, it shows character!” he enthused, and actually smiled.
“Yes, it does!” I said, and wished him a great weekend.
-E. Rudolph 11/6/07
The great author Kurt Vonnegut loved black-and-white photography. And he loved a great black-and-white photographer, his wife Jill Krementz, known for her (Leica) black-and-white work, including the best-selling book A Very Young Dancer and her portraits of famous authors.
