farewell, Ruth

Ruth Bernhard, my favorite photographer, died Monday at her home in San Francisco, at the age of 101.

I met Ruth when, well into her 90s, she came to Birmingham for the opening reception of her work at Agnes, a photography gallery owned by my friends Shawn & Johnny. Most well know for her work photographing the female nude, my favorites are some of her earlier still-life works.

My most treasured book in my photography collection is a signed copy of Ruth's Gift of the Commonplace.