Woman; 437; A Conversation with Lotte Jacobi

Hey woman. And good evening and welcome to woman this photograph is a self-portrait done by my guest this evening. It was taken in Berlin in 1930. This photograph of my guest was taken by Otto Steiner in 1973. The woman in these photographs is lot of Jacoby a lot is considered to be one of the finest portrait photographers of our time. She's photographed Einstein marks ago Lodhi Lenya Max Rinehart Eleanor Roosevelt and many others. Her photographs have been exhibited in many places throughout the world not a welcome thank you and look to be very pleased to have you here. Lata How do you know how do you decide what to

photograph. Who is kind of provoked. Where people come were afraid to go for a publisher for a magazine or newspaper. Was there a time when you went after people when there was someone you just felt you had to go I do it today to feel good. That's called when I'm I say I say you're the fourth generation photographer in your family and two brothers of my father and sisters married for tour of my sister as a photographer in New York. And so with him and you know you took over your father's studio in Brooklyn where I grew in through the city and I really I was into that type all kinds of things I wanted to be a god in the

kinds of things but it didn't work I would have the photography is really what I want to do it was just the position of my youth didn't. When has it changed has photography changed over the years. Has it you know if you came more. Take me. Fancy fruit and gadgets but the only other two you didn't look at see for real just as beauty food port for example. And I would fly to photographs of Indians in a skew mood before he made the new book a year before enthusiastic of words. People come over for a missionary and dress plates and a photograph says and does of them was

beautiful. It's of they ever thought. Let's look at a couple of the photographs that you've done I'd like to begin by looking at the one that you did of Einstein and then that includes certain nine. But you photographed him over really a long period of interest in Germany to since 21 in front of him. What kind of a man was he. Very nice very modest and he often brings out the fists read to him and I keep him in the life of us. You could make an article and he said yes but not to your core business. Further if you have to bring some of it was someone told me to ask you what happened the last time you found him and asked as to take his photograph. He said he doesn't want to be photographed in more sources. But

people have to take your pictures and that in the magazine and some said yes I come to the others but to you again that I am and always seek men and I will never get better for I have the sawing of the atom bomb on people on my conscience for I who with the liver to present the new Was that the Germans are trying to do the research to see Americans would do the first film for I thought that would prevent. The film happened and he couldn't get over to America did it. So we was afraid to do it and I think that so who a nation is suffering through from the vendor will suffer until we come out seeing that it was a thing to do. Another one of your photographs that you did of Mark

and his daughter. It's like a particular favorite of yours and that you and can you talk about him a little bit. Really. I like his paintings and I photographed him for an account of when I was tied to photograph his first wife. Too bad she didn't one that under any circumstances. Later on I think it was 69 when I was young the funds coming big from Europe. He was to let them know that and came and visited was me and he said why didn't you for the for my wife. I run since you do have a picture of you from you VERY of her. So I said But you know that I tried and she didn't.

One of them. Yeah but it's he was very good this. After you photographed people did you keep in touch with them. Incidentally I do some from London. You have another rather famous photograph of Eleanor Roosevelt that we're looking at now written to young Democrats even thing since somebody had told me that she would be there took a picture of it I had taken of funding the No you in your to give to her and to ask her if I could for her and give it to her. I asked her and she looked at me and she said I have come one day and I thought for sure that's just a lot of talk. We're running these things in front of the door.

I opened it and this is this was for I have 20 minutes can you photograph. And so I was delighted and they do. But it wasn't just 20 men in the loop she said somewhat longer. You know she had just really gotten the kind of care for Fiji's that was kind of a prison Kim and she told me about that she was very much involved and so I could just see the loonies who like to oversee the most of the pictures of the period of bread taken by the public and that's why she looked so frightened to talk to people where you're photographing them I mean is this something that you feel it's essential to do. Do you mean that high tide to make them talk about what they are interested in.

For them they usually lacks much more. I don't have to be pictures of to you one said something about the photographer should not be in the picture and that's a mistake that many photographers may have preconceived ideas that person has to look. And the idea of the pills and the overs and the few that I don't have to do that I have time to gets a person as much as I possibly can and I feel sometimes like that cuts it's our kitchen. You're a very political person you know polluted and yes I believe that we're trying to do something. Something must have happened to you though to to make it that way do you think it was growing up in Germany in the time of Hitler and so on. Well I didn't grow up I was a grown up woman who came you know it was into the schooling. I mean

the whole development in Germany it didn't stop when Hitler came to power. It was big companies that had kids to run over these things who to do you see parallels between what is happening in this country today and what happened in isn't exactly power live for here it's the International of companies that are trying to take over. It isn't snobbish new companies if it's with the National wouldn't you as is the other way for they are much more powerful. And when you have the power you in America you have it in other countries through and that's very bad and since you came to power we didn't have any. And the tusk I

mean executed through it I think they go and go and go like I don't know of the time to change that. What is your impression of Jimmy Carter so far you have a very good impression. But what I feel is some of the people how and why. I don't know where he should take them. You you were at the Democratic convention. Mr. Carter was nominated. Yes I was very happy the photographer for The New him ship times. I was a guest like you recent indication. You were the oldest working journalist at the convention I think. Do you think I was photographed more than in my whole life at the convent. Do you mind having your picture taken. I don't mind seeing them often. I think most people would agree with that and I think most people are comfortable with the

process. You know that is the difference between how you see of us who lives in our mind and how much compromise miss we do in a museum. Well it can be a terrible trauma. It really can. Who within then you feel who have been in public office in this country who have been the good man I know you thought was the biggest and we missed the chance to have him as president or secretary of state either one would have been fine. How about Eugene McCarthy How did you feel about him. Very good. But seeing he was so hurt by you know what Kenneth. You know he it's a victory in New Hampshire. And as soon as it came out he didn't get in touch through his cabinet through me that he would have gladly

been vice president and Kennedy president but he didn't even get in touch after seeing all the time. He can run for president these time all of a sudden he came out. SLI these five These are that is a victory. He came out and he took it. And Macao think that that he wasn't the same man in touch was in my own room several times. We had long talks while he was in New Hampshire and he is good as I do you know presidential material. Let's look at a couple of more photographs. You have one I'm not sure what it's credited to the photograph of the pigeon is out for a walk. Where did you take that in your city. Oh that's a

perfect place to photograph pigeons. It's a terrible human so the five on the outskirts of New York. It was like a country where you remember there were problems to be had and I wanted to buy a farm and become a farm of the year but I didn't have someone who couldn't make. Robert Frost was was another person who you photographed and you spent a great deal of time with him the day you photographed him and I suspect probably subsequently. Yeah he invited me to some of his parties in the Kimberley. It is his house which you had you know. And he sent me a Christmas poem of for the whole night and I sings through her.

We live in a small town now under population of under 400. Is that credo really became the work of 300 Norwood's to have it. And why did you decide to leave New York City and move to. A small town in New Hampshire. Actually you don't live in the town do you live in the outside. I live in a small please. Dealing in the woods. These are rough Silesian wars. After the Second World War New York wasn't as nice as it was before that it was before that. Each street was like a small town no different whether you could talk to people in that world or those of you. You didn't build your house you put together buildings you know that what I bought with flea. Would month's checks that they use in winter and somebody had put a roof on that I bought. And I stayed there for a few weeks to see if I would be able to live there.

And then only do that and see how you have a gallery there. I had a guy living until. 1970 when I got sick I got six and 63 and. When Nixon was elected. I really gets in with their opinion. I'm going there. Yes sure. I was so excited and so disappointed and it was the people Humphrey Muskie and. Jackson. Who in his apology were talking so much against Mike over and that it wasn't fun. We have a. Landscape that you did in New Hampshire. Those girls can moan very famous but in summer it's a very beautiful place and we have a gondola

growing up. And films are going to look to support that story. I knew you were not standing on the ground I suspected you might have been hanging from a tree or something that's not that's not your stuff. Have even been over as young. I tried once to climb my own in the middle of it said no that's not for me. I have to go back let it. You're into something new now it's called Photo Janet's. Where is new in a way but will it and I think it's new to most females. If there's a second work there were a lot of photographic Rowse hopeless people ins and outs of the life out of me. To use it in some way. Can you talk about the one that's on the screen now and. Describe how you coordinate creating Henson didn't stun you know at all and the telephone rings to keep the rawest.

Yes. In the civil rights. These. It's the way you do it. You have ideas and just try everything that sports you do without a camera. That is was all to come or was a fleshlight. A piece of. The sins of the sensitive paper. And. The. Battery of the flashlight is very much. And then you go ahead here this is one. That I did to show the possibilities of many dimensions. I had heard. It one time when I photographed talking to a scientists. I ask him to have a scientists there so they would talk and not much time. Yes. So they spoke in dimensions and later on when I got neo cats to do these.

Photos I got very tired of crumbs which everything is stable. And I started to move the whole thing. So I came to this. And. I was crying that I felt there are so many dimensions in there that I went out to make more. In that way. Because this is Samara. Which shows. It's Orlean's the IOC under the sun and. Then to line us. And if they do put they put something on the paper this time. No no it's just flush but you have done. Either the same thing where you put objects on the paper with its four do good. OK I use no objects let's say you can see the

shadows right. A few. Playoff round last was so fun you can get all kinds of. Designs and limit is clearly in the pearls. It's an unlimited possibilities for photographers. Do you think is there still a controversy. As to whether photography is an art or not I don't think so. You think anything that was issued as a steed loots scenes of getting that is. That. Not every photograph is a piece of fog but then not every painting is easy. If you know your guess is open that. Is are you going to continue to experiment or over's experiment with something or a naive residue and sick and I feel that too many of people know they find something and then they

stick with thick and thin and don't do anything. That's. Where you tell me you thought to change was a good thing and I guess you think it's especially good for photographers for every board. I had a friend who was a physician every seven years. He changed his practice and give up entirely new some grit. You have you. You have a new project. You received a grant. Yes. I am going to travel in that camp. I hope. This was a whole of the new of the United States and for the for Togo for sets of words and standards for but in the meantime I think. Poets and Indians should be for the cruft to a few that this country has so many. Talented people. And it all goes to waste for the few that are really unknown and I feel that one has to do something in the kitchen. I would love

to make you feel. Of. I don't know if I will get to that. I hope you do because I think it would be fun for you to do make the film and it will be I think it will be good for many people to see how much there is that they don't know. Let's look at some more photographs I'm not exactly sure what's coming up now. Oh I know where that is you know some of them were right. She looks different. She cut her. Yes yes I understand she is. She's been on the program as many people will recognize and know when she is going to be on again right. And I think we have your polar bear on now that. You know there's a woman in Central Asia she who has her hand in front of her face. For people of the rural so called primitive I think that.

Photographing takes this soul of way. As I said before I'm not so sure. This is your polar bear with the support of reverence in zoos. And you also have a wonderful photograph of Paul robes in. Which I think we look at next. Did you spend any time with him. Well you came to be photographed with. One of his. Good growth. Father for. Elizabeth. Your friend here. You know. That's how I felt. And we have I'm not sure what. With the next one is. Oh yes. There's one that's a good American from top of. Lot of what kind of a camera do you use. I mean do you go places with lenses hanging all

around you and I never did that. I once in a while had to come was. For certain purposes. But. I don't believe in gadgets I never did. I had I like to take pictures with a large home where I have a ground glass and can see exactly what I do. That is too heavy for me. No. So unless I have someone I had to say yes she could certify from an e-meter in you know existence of come on it's men or women behinds to come of their own. I know I know that there's a debate always going on the technology versus you know I think that when you go to exhibitions today. You have the feeling. This photographer. When you have to take Nikifor gets what he wants to see. What do you what do you think you'd like to do most Next I mean say you get to make your film.

What would be the next. Sort of exciting thing that you might like to try a thought about that. Yes I have another thing that I would like to do or don't move. Or give a round would to make these abstracts who's in Colo. But for that I have to study kind of just who do I come to learn. If I will so that if I need it so bad you study television at one point. Yes I do. Why did you do that. For the You interest me. They give a free course the University of New Hampshire when I was there for. To some ministers. And to. You if you take that course you are obliged to the next semester to work for them. But everything. That that interested me very much and. I wanted to find out that. Television had to be as bad as it was. Does it.

No it doesn't have to be that way but I think it's partly it is a matter of mourning as everybody you know here is through money conscious. It's. It's it's a it's a question we should go to Jefferson. Instead of if you were in Hamilton. It's high time. We're going to close now and I'm really pleased you've been here and I thank you very much. That's when it's most fun. Thank you for watching and good night. This program was produced by W. N. E. D caving which is solely responsible for

its content funding was provided by public television stations additional support was provided by unrestricted general program grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Ford Foundation. A.