If you don’t know this man already…

I am a total fan of the The New York Times’ video library. There are great videos with all kinds of topics, from breaking news to the editor’s picks of all time favorite movies. This website is MY tv.

One contributor I follow is Bill Cunningham and his “On The Street” videos, which in fact are not video per se, but a commented slide show of fashionable people on the streets of New York. A must see! And must hear! Cunningham’s comments with his grainy voice are absolutely great: not a fashion statement, no do’s and don’t (or “its” whatever!). Just a comment on how people fabiously dress on the street. This 80 year old photographer (he denies he is a photographer, see underneath), always camera in hand, always wearing a blue jacket has become a sort of New York landmark, a sartorial Weegee.

Here is a excerpt of the article “Bill on Bill” he wrote on himself for The New York Times in 2002:
“I started photographing people on the street during World War II. I used a little box Brownie. Nothing too expensive. The problem is I’m not a good photographer. To be perfectly honest, I’m too shy. Not aggressive enough. Well, I’m not aggressive at all. I just loved to see wonderfully dressed women, and I still do. That’s all there is to it.”

And here is one of his latest video

This man, of which Anna Wintour says “We all get dressed for Bill”, is now the subject of a documentary film by Richard Press simply called “Bill Cunningham, New York”. It has been screened in a few places in the US since march, and hopefully it may come to Europe (cross your fingers)!!Here is the film’s website: http://billcunninghamnewyork.com