Hy Peskin
Encyclopedia
Hyman "Hy" Peskin was a Jewish-American photographer notable for several famous photographs of American sports people and celebrities published by Sports Illustrated
and Life
. In particular, he was a pioneer of sports photography, with his work being ranked amongst the best sports photojournalism of the 20th century. In 1966 he changed his name to Brian Blaine Reynolds, and founded the Academy of Achievement
, bringing young people together with statesmen and Nobel Prize winners.
after it started up in 1924, but soon became a photographer because it paid a higher salary.
Sports photographers would work from the press box, limiting the pictures they could take. Peskin was the first sports photographer to cover the action from the sideline or climb up on the roof to obtain more interesting shots. In his early days, he was known for the photographs he took of the Brooklyn Dodgers from Ebbets Field
. Peskin often said "I helped make the Dodgers famous and they helped make me". http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-peskin10jun10,1,2987419.story?page=1&ctrack=1&cset=true&coll=la-headlines-pe-california
After serving in the Marines during World War II, he wanted to start work as a magazine photographer using color. He applied for positions with 20 magazines but only Look
showed any interest. It offered him a job after showing the photo editor pictures of a boxing match he had taken showing the blood on one of the boxer's face.
Peskin was the first staff photographer hired by Sports Illustrated. His picture of Ben Hogan
playing a 1-shot iron to the green at the 72nd hole of the 1950 US Open was ranked by that magazine as one of the greatest sports photographs of the twentieth century.
In 1953, Peskin shot a Life
cover and photographic feature of Senator John F. Kennedy
and his fiancé Jacqueline Bouvier. These photos helped to promote Kennedy as a national figure and were Peskin's personal favourites.
Sports Illustrated rated another photo taken by Peskin in 1955 of boxer Carmen Basilio
jumping into the arms of his cornerman on winning the welterweight world championship as another of its greatest sports photographs of the twentieth century.
During his career as a sports photographer, Peskin had 40 of his photographs appear on the front cover of Sports Illustrated. He finished his career on a sad note when technical problems meant that he virtually took no photographs at the first title fight between Muhammad Ali
and Sonny Liston
.
His family now markets a complete collection of his works online. http://hypeskin.com/shop/Scripts/default.asp
He therefor changed his name to Brian Blain Reynolds after the three names of his sons so that a Jewish photographer would no longer be perceived as the head of the American Academy of Achievement. The American Academy of Achievement moved to Dallas and became successful.
Wayne Reynolds took over responsibility for the American Academy of Achievement in 1985. Friction developed between Brian Reynolds and his son resulting in court action in the late 1980s. Brian Reynolds persuaded Ray Charles
who had previously been honored to give evidence on his behalf as to his role in founding the AAA which was pivotal in him being awarded a monthly pension of $10,000 from the organisation. Unfortunately, the bad blood caused by the legal action meant that the Academy of Achievement as it is now called does not acknowledge the man who founded it on its web site.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
. In particular, he was a pioneer of sports photography, with his work being ranked amongst the best sports photojournalism of the 20th century. In 1966 he changed his name to Brian Blaine Reynolds, and founded the Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement
The Academy of Achievement is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 1961 by photographer Hy Peskin. He established the Academy of Achievement to bring aspiring young people together with accomplished people...
, bringing young people together with statesmen and Nobel Prize winners.
Photography Career 1915–1964
He was born to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, where his father Elias Peskowitz was a tailor who lost his job in the Depression, the family being saved by Hy's first job as a newspaper seller. He then became a newspaper journalist at the New York Daily MirrorNew York Daily Mirror
The New York Daily Mirror was an American morning tabloid newspaper first published on June 24, 1924, in New York City by the William Randolph Hearst organization as a contrast to their mainstream broadsheets, the Evening Journal and New York American, later consolidated into the New York Journal...
after it started up in 1924, but soon became a photographer because it paid a higher salary.
Sports photographers would work from the press box, limiting the pictures they could take. Peskin was the first sports photographer to cover the action from the sideline or climb up on the roof to obtain more interesting shots. In his early days, he was known for the photographs he took of the Brooklyn Dodgers from Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
. Peskin often said "I helped make the Dodgers famous and they helped make me". http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-peskin10jun10,1,2987419.story?page=1&ctrack=1&cset=true&coll=la-headlines-pe-california
After serving in the Marines during World War II, he wanted to start work as a magazine photographer using color. He applied for positions with 20 magazines but only Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
showed any interest. It offered him a job after showing the photo editor pictures of a boxing match he had taken showing the blood on one of the boxer's face.
Peskin was the first staff photographer hired by Sports Illustrated. His picture of Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
playing a 1-shot iron to the green at the 72nd hole of the 1950 US Open was ranked by that magazine as one of the greatest sports photographs of the twentieth century.
In 1953, Peskin shot a Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
cover and photographic feature of Senator John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and his fiancé Jacqueline Bouvier. These photos helped to promote Kennedy as a national figure and were Peskin's personal favourites.
Sports Illustrated rated another photo taken by Peskin in 1955 of boxer Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
jumping into the arms of his cornerman on winning the welterweight world championship as another of its greatest sports photographs of the twentieth century.
During his career as a sports photographer, Peskin had 40 of his photographs appear on the front cover of Sports Illustrated. He finished his career on a sad note when technical problems meant that he virtually took no photographs at the first title fight between Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
.
His family now markets a complete collection of his works online. http://hypeskin.com/shop/Scripts/default.asp
Philanthropist 1961–2005
Hy Peskin founded the Academy of Achievement in 1961 to hold annual dinners bringing world luminaries in touch with talented young Americans. The Academy of Achievement struggled at first as notable people thought that the academy might be simply a reason for Peskin to take their photograph. His wife Blanche and sons Evan, Ron and Wayne helped him to stage the dinners which lost money at first.He therefor changed his name to Brian Blain Reynolds after the three names of his sons so that a Jewish photographer would no longer be perceived as the head of the American Academy of Achievement. The American Academy of Achievement moved to Dallas and became successful.
Wayne Reynolds took over responsibility for the American Academy of Achievement in 1985. Friction developed between Brian Reynolds and his son resulting in court action in the late 1980s. Brian Reynolds persuaded Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
who had previously been honored to give evidence on his behalf as to his role in founding the AAA which was pivotal in him being awarded a monthly pension of $10,000 from the organisation. Unfortunately, the bad blood caused by the legal action meant that the Academy of Achievement as it is now called does not acknowledge the man who founded it on its web site.