Eggleston attended Vanderbilt University for a year, Delta State College for another year and the University of Mississippi for four years, none of these experiences resulted in a college degree. That being said, throughout his time spent at college, Eggleston became very interested in photography. A friend of his from Vanderbilt actually gave him his first Leica camera.
Inspired by the works of Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eggleston began photographing downtown Memphis using a high-speed 35mm black and white film. Frank, a Swiss born photographer, is best known for his book titled The Americans and Cartier-Bresson is well known for The Decisive Moment. Both of these photographers were interested in capturing a moment and portraying a certain culture. Eggleston was interested in achieving a similar goal. The subject matter that Eggleston focused on was centered around diners, supermarkets, and domestic interiors. In the photographs that also include human subjects, the people tend to be involved in day-to-day activity:
Eggleston, William, From Before Color, n.d. |
During the mid-1960s, Eggleston switched over to color film, which would later become his primary medium. He was none for his ability to push the limits of the film, resulting in vibrant colors. What made Eggleston unique was that his development as a photographer occurred mostly in isolation from other artists. In 1969, Eggleston had an interview with John Szarkowski of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Szarkowski described looking through Eggleston's portfolio as 'rooting through a suitcase of color prints'.
Eggleston, William, Downtown Moulton, Mississippi, 1969. |
Eggleston, William, From Los Alamos 1964 - 1974. |
Eggleston, William, From Los Alamos 1964 - 1974. |
Eggleston, William, From Los Alamos 1964 - 1974. |
Eggleston, William, From Los Alamos 1964 - 1974. |
Eggleston, William, From Los Alamos 1964 - 1974. |
Eggleston, William, The Red Ceiling, 1973. |
Eggleston has published many books throughout his career as a photographer: Election Eve (1976): Depicting images taken the night before President Ford's election. The Morals of Vision and Flowers were published in 1978. Wedgwood Blue and Seven were released in 1979; Troubled Waters, and The Louisiana Project in 1980. In 1984, Eggleston published William Eggleston's Graceland, which displayed a series of commissioned photographs taken of Elvis Presley's Graceland:
Eggleston, William, From William Eggleston's Graceland, 1984. |
Eggleston, William, From William Eggleston's Graceland, 1984. |
Eggleston, William, From Faulkner's Mississippi, 1990. |
Eggleston, William, From Faulkner's Mississippi, 1990. |
Eggleston, William, From Faulkner's Mississippi, 1990. |
Eggleston, William, From Faulkner's Mississippi, 1990. |
02. "WILLIAM EGGLESTON." WILLIAM EGGLESTON. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.