Irving Penn was a walking contradiction. He worked in fashion but eschewed frivolity. He was a perfectionist but found beauty in imperfection. He captured elegance in the raw, and rawness in the elegant. More than anything, he believed that photography was an art form in its own right—an art that required patience, precision, and, above all, vision.

As we dive into the work of Irving Penn, one word comes to mind: prolific. And that feels like an understatement. Irving went where his curiosities led him. He didn’t “niche down",” but always kept exploring more, yet his work feels cohesive because his story and voice remained consistent.

Amy Elizabeth is an artist and film photographer living in Minneapolis, MN. She runs the group The Art Lab for creatives who want to connect and push forward in their artistry. She is also the owner/operator of Film Lab 135, a bespoke lab dedicated to processing experimental film, and specializing in film soup. You can find her on Instagram, substack, and bluesky @itsamyliz.

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