He became a professional photographer working on the Isle of Man at the age of 16.[1] He moved to England to work for Picture Post from 1943 to 1945, covering the allied advance across Europe to Berlin.[2][1]
In 1941, he joined the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) as a junior member. He became an Associate[n 1] of the RPS in 1943 and a Fellow[n 2] in 1944. At the time he was probably "the youngest Fellow in the history of the Royal Photographic Society".[3]
He moved to the United States and started working for Life at the age of 22 in 1945.[3] He continued to work for the magazine until its closure in 1972.[4]
While working for Life, McCombe produced his most notable work, "Career Girl: Her Life and Problems" (3 May 1948), which documented the life of 23-year-old Gwyned Filling, "a young college girl trying to make a start on an advertising career in New York".[5] McCombe's photograph for Life (22 August 1949) of cowboy Clarence Hailey Long inspired advertising agency Leo Burnett to create the Marlboro Man advertising campaign.[2]
Of his process, McCombe stated:
This is the way it usually happens. You come in cold to an unfamiliar situation, where nobody knows you. The scenes you had imagined often turn out to be non-existent. "What's going on?" you ask yourself. "Where's my story?" It's like being on the outside of a shop window looking in. Somehow, you have to break through the glass.[6]
Personal life
With his wife, Gertrude, McCombe started the Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation for wellness and cancer treatment.[n 3] Gertrude was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. Whilst caring for his wife, Leonard himself deteriorated, with suspected mesothelioma.[1] He died in 2015, and Gertrude died in 2018.[7][8][1]
Notes
^The term is explained in "Associate (ARPS)". Royal Photographic Society. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^The term is explained in "Fellowship (FRPS)". Royal Photographic Society. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ abcde"The Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation". The Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
^ ab"Leonard McCombe - Biographies - iMuseum". iMuseum - Manx National Heritage. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
^ ab"The Photography of Leonard McCombe". Life. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
^Fitzgerald, Jacqueline (7 May 2003). "A career and a life". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^Photojournalism. Life Library of Photography. New York: Time-Life Books. 1971. p. 68.
^Photojournalism. Life Library of Photography. New York: Time-Life Books. 1971. p. 175.
^"Leonard McCombe (American, 1923–2015)". Artnet. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
^"Leonard McCombe". Grands Photographes. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
August 23, 2023
leonard, mccombe, leonard, james, mccombe, june, 1923, 2015, manx, born, american, photographer, photojournalist, worked, picture, post, life, york, 1954, photograh, taken, mikiborn, 1923, june, 1923isle, englanddied2015, aged, nationalitybritish, americanalma. Leonard James McCombe 1 June 1923 2015 was a Manx born American war photographer and photojournalist who worked for Picture Post and Life Leonard McCombeLeonard McCombe in New York 1954 Photograh taken by Jun MikiBorn 1923 06 01 1 June 1923Isle of Man EnglandDied2015 aged 91 92 NationalityBritish AmericanAlma materSlade School of Fine ArtKnown forPhotography Contents 1 Life and work 2 Personal life 3 Notes 4 ReferencesLife and work EditMcCombe was born on 1 June 1923 on the Isle of Man and grew up in Port Erin 1 He became a professional photographer working on the Isle of Man at the age of 16 1 He moved to England to work for Picture Post from 1943 to 1945 covering the allied advance across Europe to Berlin 2 1 In 1941 he joined the Royal Photographic Society RPS as a junior member He became an Associate n 1 of the RPS in 1943 and a Fellow n 2 in 1944 At the time he was probably the youngest Fellow in the history of the Royal Photographic Society 3 He moved to the United States and started working for Life at the age of 22 in 1945 3 He continued to work for the magazine until its closure in 1972 4 While working for Life McCombe produced his most notable work Career Girl Her Life and Problems 3 May 1948 which documented the life of 23 year old Gwyned Filling a young college girl trying to make a start on an advertising career in New York 5 McCombe s photograph for Life 22 August 1949 of cowboy Clarence Hailey Long inspired advertising agency Leo Burnett to create the Marlboro Man advertising campaign 2 Of his process McCombe stated This is the way it usually happens You come in cold to an unfamiliar situation where nobody knows you The scenes you had imagined often turn out to be non existent What s going on you ask yourself Where s my story It s like being on the outside of a shop window looking in Somehow you have to break through the glass 6 Personal life EditWith his wife Gertrude McCombe started the Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation for wellness and cancer treatment n 3 Gertrude was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014 Whilst caring for his wife Leonard himself deteriorated with suspected mesothelioma 1 He died in 2015 and Gertrude died in 2018 7 8 1 Notes Edit The term is explained in Associate ARPS Royal Photographic Society Retrieved 24 September 2020 The term is explained in Fellowship FRPS Royal Photographic Society Retrieved 24 September 2020 The foundation s website is here References Edit a b c d e The Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation The Gertrude and Leonard McCombe Foundation Retrieved 23 September 2020 a b Leonard McCombe Biographies iMuseum iMuseum Manx National Heritage Retrieved 23 September 2020 a b The Photography of Leonard McCombe Life Retrieved 23 September 2020 Fitzgerald Jacqueline 7 May 2003 A career and a life Chicago Tribune Retrieved 24 September 2020 Photojournalism Life Library of Photography New York Time Life Books 1971 p 68 Photojournalism Life Library of Photography New York Time Life Books 1971 p 175 Leonard McCombe American 1923 2015 Artnet Retrieved 18 December 2021 Leonard McCombe Grands Photographes Retrieved 18 December 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leonard McCombe amp oldid 1060861605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
