Leading American photojournalist David Burnett is one of the very few photographers to have photographed all US Presidents since John F. Kennedy. In 1963, Burnett’s final year of high school, his mother took him to see Kennedy speak in downtown Salt Lake City. A chance moment and a borrowed camera led to a lifelong career.
From iconic statesmen such as JFK, to the downfall of Richard Nixon, and the significance of America’s election of Barack Obama, these moments of history have reverberated around the world. Spanning five decades, Burnett’s images are markers of time and provide a fascinating, up-close and unique perspective.
David Burnett (b. 1946) began working as a freelancer for Time, and later for Life magazine in the 1960s. He co-founded Contact Press Images in 1976 with Robert Pledge and has worked in over 70 countries. His many awards include the Robert Capa Gold Medal, multiple World Press Photo Awards and World Press Photo of the Year.
This exhibition was originally presented at the Australian Centre for Photography in partnership with Reportage Festival. The exhibition is supported by Fuji Film and Pixel Perfect.
