外研版（2019）选择性必修三《Unit 2 A life’s work》Life Behind the Lens P15优秀教案设计

外研版（2019）选择性必修三《Unit 2 A life’s work》Life Behind the Lens P15优秀教案设计

Life Behind the Lens (P14)

Unit 2 Understanding ideas P14.mp3

A white-haired old man riding an ordinary bicycle around the streets of New York, always

wearing the same blue worker’s jacket and simple black running shoes. If you saw him,

you’d never think there was anything remarkable about him. And yet every member of New

York’s wealthy high society wanted nothing more than to pose for this man.

This ordinary-looking man was Bill Cunningham, one of the most important American photographers of the last fifty years.

What made Cunningham so great? It certainly wasn’t the use of expensive, technologically-advanced equipment. Cunningham always used simple, relatively cheap cameras and took all his pictures on the streets of New York, not in a studio. Nor was it a wide range of contacts and connections. Although he always knew where fashionable parties and events were happening, Cunningham liked to photograph ordinary people in the poor Bronx as much as VIPs in rich Manhattan. He found inspiration where others could not, in simple, everyday scenes, such as a man buying oranges at the local grocery store, or a woman riding home on the graffiti-covered subway. These things were real, and it was within their reality that Cunningham saw both beauty and potential. Through his fascination with what people were wearing, and not who they were, he opened the doors of fashion to everyone – fashion as he saw it belonged to the people, not just to high society and big brands.

Moreover, what made Cunningham great was his devotion to photography, and the hours and

hours of sheer hard work he put into his work. Cunningham would go out onto the streets of

New York each and every day, regardless of the weather. He would even stay outside in a

storm, not coming back until he knew he had the right photos. He hardly ever took a day off

and not once stayed home sick. This devotion and hard work is what we see reflected within

his photos. This is what makes them so special.

Although he was a world-famous fashion photographer, Cunningham’s approach to life was

uncomplicated. He lived in a small apartment with a shared washroom. A simple restaurant

was where he usually had the same meal of sausages, eggs and coffee.

Cunningham never accepted the benefits offered to him for being a fashion photographer. He

valued his integrity and would not be bought by anyone, no matter how many free clothes or

flights to faraway destinations he was offered. And if he went to a celebrity party, he was