Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

by Eric Kim on May 11, 2011

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

Long before Stanley Kubrick started filming amazing movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange, he was a passionate street photographer. Check out some of these images he took in 1949 in Chicago title: “Chicago City of Contrasts.” All of the images tell incredible stories, and you can see where he got his inspiration for story-telling. Read more to see the rest of his inspirational images.

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

1x1.trans Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

via How to Be a Retronaut

So what do you think about these images? How do they speak to you? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think!

Tagged as: black and white, chicago, stanley kubrick, street photography

  • http://www.photosfromthetopfloor.blogspot.com Carsten / topfloor

    Eric, you are right. Mr.Kubrick really has an eye for photography. I found out about him visiting an exhibition of his photography last year in Venice. He really understood the language of light, manyof his pictures he did (not only in Chicago) show a cinematic quality. Also he like to tell stories in his pictures, which adds to their strength.
    As I did not know any of the photos you posted here, I can only say thank you for showcasing these for us! BW, Carsten

  • http://allcitysf.com/ Stuart

    Some of these are really fantastic, possibly just because of the inane situations SK found himself in. He was a weird dude. He also had some opinions about light that were really revolutionary and counter culture at the time, at least in the 60′s & 70′s.

    Good reporting.

  • http://isoterica.tumblr.com/tagged/street Isoterica

    Kubrick seems to be a master of light and shadows photographically speaking. He used it in his later film making which coupled with his unique perspective makes his a name that stands apart from the rest. I know I can’t forgot A Clockwork Orange, even my daughter can quote from it and 2001 is legendary. I really do think it’s fascinating that he started out indulging himself in the streets. Thanks for sharing.. I had not known!

  • http://www.s4photo.co.uk Marcos Semola

    Cool pictures. Thanks for sharing…
    Regards,
    MS

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/byzeno Zeno

    Those amazing photos have a great cinematic feel to them.

    Thanks for bringing them to our attention Eric, very interesting and enjoyable.

    Zeno

  • http://thegrabble.com King

    FREAKY chip-up baby!

  • http://stuckinamoment1.tumblr.com/ Hien

    brillant! cinematic, emotive and old school film, what’s there not to love? thanks for sharing, would love to see more street captures using film (35mm, medium format, large format, polaroid, etc) on your blog, maybe another article on that please? ;)

    • http://www.photosfromthetopfloor.blogspot.com Carsten / topfloor

      I agree :-)

  • chispa

    I like them all but the best two was the feast (no number) and famine (#28) pictures next to each other. And this story continues all over the world and right here in the USA, now. I remember when I was a kid I ran away from home to Chicago and had the unpleasant experience of walking by an upscale restaurant and watching people eating their steaks and lobster. I was living in a cheap hotel (50 cents a night) on North Clark street and eating 15 cent bowls of chili in a joint next to the police station around the corner from the hotel. Not much money could be panhandled on N. Clark so I went to the Lakefront where the rich people lived. Bless the hungry children and twice blessed are those that starve and die.

  • http://calm7clear.tistory.com John Kim

    Each image seems to have lot more story behind. As you mentioned somewhere in your articles, night could have more expressions. I really like Mr. Kubrick’s movies…probably his movies already affected me strongly before I came to know about any photography/street photography stuffs.
    Thanks for sharing.

    • http://www.erickimphotography.com Eric Kim

      Thanks for the comment John! :)

  • Milnes2

    Stanley learned photography from my grandfather, Sidney Kahn, a commercial photographer living and working in NYC. Sidney was stanley’s uncle, my mother’s cousin. My grandfather worked at Arpeda studios and was absolutely amazing. Our family is lucky enough to have a trunkful of his photos.

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