Clarence John Laughlin
(1905-1985)Architecture, Documentary, Fashion/Glamour, Fine Art
Biography: Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1905, Laughlin moved to New Orleans at an early age and spent most of his life photographing the area, creating works steeped in the atmosphere of a decaying Southern civilization. During the Great Depression, he taught himself the fundamentals of the medium using simple cameras and home-made enlarging equipment. Early in his career, Laughlin worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers, shooting photos of the construction work on the Mississippi River levees between New Orleans and Vicksburg. Later, he shot fashion photos for Vogue magazine. From 1941-42 he worked with the Photography Department of the National Archives in Washington, DC. After World War II ended, Laughlin earned a living primarily by photographing contemporary architecture for architects and architectural magazines.