He photographed Albert Einstein, Harry Truman and Marilyn Monroe, but some of his most famous work comes from within smoky jazz clubs.
Herman Leonard graduated from Ohio University in 1947 with a photography degree and has gone on to establish himself as a world-renowned jazz photographer.
His passion began innocently enough when 10-year-old Leonard watched his brother, an amateur photographer, develop a roll of film.
All of a sudden
a picture appeared Leonard said. It was like magic. It was the magic of it that inspired me. And that's the way I got started.
When Leonard sought to obtain a photography degree, OU was the only school in the United States that offered one at the time, he said. He graduated in 1947 and spent a year working as an assistant to photographer Yousuf Karsh.
He was probably the finest portrait photographer that ever lived Leonard said. He photographed everybody
from kings and presidents to workers.
The year he spent learning from Karsh was an opportunity few photographers have, Leonard said. After he left - Karsh jokingly said their work was becoming too similar - Leonard went to New York to incorporate another of his passions into his work: jazz music.
As he began to establish himself and sell his work, Leonard was able to fulfill what he called a photographer's first role - remaining invisible and not interfering with a subject's work - while still forming friendships with legends such as Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.
There wasn't much of a market for jazz photography when Leonard first started working, but he didn't allow that to interfere with his goals. Today, he is best known for photos of jazz personalities in the 1940s, '50s and '60s.
The good thing about his work is that it was a personal project
said Marcy Nighswander, a professor in OU's School of Visual Communication. He shot for personal satisfaction. It wasn't until years later that people recognized that what he had was a tremendous documentation of that era. I think his motivation was amazing.
Nighswander added that Leonard's commencement speech at OU last year allowed her to put a name and face with her knowledge of his work.
In 1991, Leonard moved to New Orleans and made a name for himself photographing the city's jazz scene. When Hurricane Katrina struck 14 years later, his home, studio and thousands of printed photographs were ruined. He moved again, this time to Studio City, Calif.
Leonard's work is housed in many personal collections across the world, several galleries, and museums such as the Smithsonian, which holds 130 of his original prints.
Fahey/Klein Gallery, a fine art photography gallery in Los Angeles, Calif., has carried Leonard's work for about 15 years. He is one of several jazz photographers whose work is sold in the gallery. Others include William Claxton, William Gottlieb and Phil Stern.
We show nothing but the best; Herman is just one of the best out there
co-owner David Fahey said. (Leonard's photos) are atmospheric portraits of music personalities that have since become iconic as representing that particular individual.
Fahey added that Leonard's photos are sold at the gallery at prices ranging from $1,400 to $50,000, and samples of the work can be seen at faheykleingallery.com.
Leonard has served as an inspiration for many photographers, including Ben Clark, a California-based music and portrait photographer, who said he tries to capture Leonard's energy in his own black-and-white photography.
I like how (Leonard's) portraits give a live feel. They capture a real moment and you remember it
Clark said. The photos pretty much sum up the golden era of jazz. They're just so good.
Some of his best memories come from his early work, Leonard said. One of the first celebrities he photographed in his Greenwich Village studio was Lena Horne.
She was magnificent
Leonard said. It's a portrait I did in 1948
and it's still one of the best portraits I did in my life.
Leonard photographed another jazz musician, Miles Davis, during a period of almost 50 years. He recalled the last time he photographed the performer, at a 1991 concert in Switzerland - six weeks before Davis died. Traditionally, photographers were asked to leave after a performer's first two numbers, but at this particular concert, Davis spoke up and asked Leonard to stay.
Because I stayed
I was able to capture one of the most powerful portraits I've ever done
Leonard said.
At 87, Leonard continues to take photographs, something he said should resonate with student photographers.
He hasn't retired. He's still working. He's still enthusiastic and energetic
