Author
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Topic: Ralph Morse, LIFE photographer (1917-2014)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-08-2014 04:11 PM
TIME Magazine reports that LIFE photographer Ralph Morse has died at 97. No photographer in the history of LIFE magazine had a more varied, thrilling and productive career than Ralph. Long after he retired, he was unfailingly gracious whenever anyone from LIFE.com contacted him, often out of the blue, asking if he recalled this or that assignment, or if he remembered taking a specific photo 40 or 50 or 60 years before. He was a true original — one of those rare figures who seemed have been everywhere, chronicling everything and everyone, for so much of the 20th century. He was also one hell of a storyteller. Ralph Morse will be sorely missed. Fortunately for all of us, his work endures. The following biographical essay was prepared by NASA's Kennedy Space Center in support of Morse's addition to The Chroniclers wall of honor. Credit: Tom and Mark UsciakRalph Morse, LIFE MagazineLIFE magazine's managing editors George Hunt and Ed Thompson both stated in a speech and book, "If life could afford only one photographer, it would have to be Ralph Morse." Morse was an eyewitness to some of the most important events during the 20th century. He photographed some of the most widely seen pictures of World War II, sports events and the space program which he covered for more than 15 years. During his thirty years with LIFE, Morse covered every type of assignment from science to theater, and he was the senior staff photographer at the time it ceased publication. Encyclopedias and history books abound with his coverage of World War II, the marines at Guadalcanal, the Doolittle raid on Tokyo and Patton's drive across France. Morse was the only civilian photographer covering the surrender of the German armies to Gen. Eisenhower for the entire world to see. Assigned to the space program during its infancy, he spent 15 years using inventive photography to explain the astronauts and space flights to LIFE's readers. A welcome face among the media at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Morse covered the John Glenn flight in 1962 and was recalled from retirement to cover John Glenn’s second flight in 1998. He was present for almost every human space flight and many unmanned missions. The LIFE magazine contract with the original seven astronauts allowed him extraordinary access to their lives and he made the most of the opportunity. Although he always claimed to be a specialist in nothing, but a journalist portraying words in pictures, his 30 awards belied that claim. He was a specialist at finding the best angle, the best position, the best exposure and the best combination of emulsion and camera to tell any story. A native of New York City, Morse had a burning desire to be a photographer from a young age. He took every photographic course offered at City College of New York and then hit the pavement looking for a job. Going from agency to agency, his first job was with Paul Parker, a social photographer. Next he freelanced through the PIX agency. PIX were so impressed it urged LIFE's picture editor to meet him. A test assignment confirmed his talent and Morse spent the next 30 years with LIFE. In 1972 when LIFE discontinued regular publication, Morse switched to Time magazine and continued his award winning career and his trips to the Kennedy Space Center.
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Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-08-2014 04:17 PM
I've always admired his work, he was a pioneer.. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 12-08-2014 04:29 PM
A great photographer and chronicler of space flight, in the same vein as Robert Capa and Margaret Bourke-White..
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Headshot Member Posts: 864 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 12-08-2014 05:10 PM
Morse was a true artist and photojournalist, the likes of which we are unlikely to see again. His work remains awe-inspiring. He will be greatly missed. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-08-2014 05:11 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-08-2014 05:50 PM
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mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-08-2014 05:51 PM
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jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 12-08-2014 07:30 PM
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E2M Lem Man Member Posts: 846 From: Los Angeles CA. USA Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 12-08-2014 07:44 PM
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Greggy_D Member Posts: 977 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-08-2014 07:56 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-08-2014 08:16 PM
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Astro Rich Member Posts: 133 From: Huntsville, Alabama Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 12-08-2014 08:25 PM
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Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 12-08-2014 08:38 PM
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rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 12-08-2014 10:58 PM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 12-08-2014 11:08 PM
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ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 12-08-2014 11:12 PM
Sorry to hear this - the man was a legend of the space era with some absolutely brilliant and iconic photographs. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 12-09-2014 05:06 AM
An inspirational photographer who will be sadly missed. RIP. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2915 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 12-09-2014 05:17 AM
A truly talented photographer and one of the first to capture so many images of our nation's early space pioneering feats, especially our first astronauts. What a great career with so many historical coverages during he 20th century! |
Jeff Member Posts: 474 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
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posted 12-09-2014 05:23 AM
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gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-09-2014 06:33 AM
Legend . |
bruce Member Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-09-2014 06:49 AM
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Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 12-09-2014 08:16 AM
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David Carey Member Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 12-09-2014 10:10 AM
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JohnPaul56 Member Posts: 180 From: Montclair, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2010
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posted 12-09-2014 01:52 PM
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Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 12-09-2014 04:15 PM
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hlbjr Member Posts: 475 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 12-09-2014 07:35 PM
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YankeeClipper Member Posts: 617 From: Dublin, Ireland Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 12-10-2014 06:09 AM
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Cozmosis22 Member Posts: 968 From: Texas * Earth Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 12-10-2014 08:28 AM
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apolloprojeckt Member Posts: 1447 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 12-10-2014 09:14 AM
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Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 12-10-2014 11:02 AM
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Quindar the Eskimo New Member Posts: 4 From: Haverhill, MA, USA Registered: Nov 2014
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posted 12-10-2014 11:03 AM
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Jake Member Posts: 464 From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 12-11-2014 04:26 PM
.------------------ Jake Schultz - curator, Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home) |
413 is in Member Posts: 628 From: Alexandria, VA USA Registered: May 2006
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posted 12-11-2014 05:06 PM
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East-Frisian Member Posts: 586 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-12-2014 06:58 AM
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Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 12-12-2014 10:18 AM
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Tom Member Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-12-2014 04:54 PM
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ea757grrl Member Posts: 729 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-12-2014 05:07 PM
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Lewis007 Member Posts: 102 From: Geldermalsen, the Netherlands Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-14-2014 01:09 AM
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