1/3/15: Drafted into the U.S. Army at 19, budding editorial photographer John Olson was assigned to “Stars and Stripes” and sent to photograph the Vietnam War. Best known for the powerful images he captured during the Tet Offensive, his work immediately gained him many accolades, and his reputation as a photo journalist increased by leaps and bounds. At 21, following his military discharge, Olson was hired by LIFE Magazine as their youngest-ever staff photographer. From 1969 through early 1970, he was assigned to the White House and traveled with President Nixon. Then LIFE sent him to take a series of portraits of the most famous rock musicians of the day with their parents in their childhood homes, and things really started to get interesting.
“A hell of a lot more difficult and unrewarding than war photography,” John recalled.
He spent over a year working on the assignment. It must have been so surreal to go from Vietnam to the White House to suburban living rooms. Below are the adorably awkward-yet-vulnerable results of that assignment.
You can learn more about the photography of John Olson on the Life Magazine website.
March 14, 2021 at 9:32 am
They look like normal parents.
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March 15, 2021 at 8:44 am
They really do!
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March 14, 2021 at 9:38 am
There’s a charming awkwardness to the photos
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March 15, 2021 at 8:44 am
‘Charming awkwardness’ is the perfect way to describe them!
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March 15, 2021 at 9:53 am
😎
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March 14, 2021 at 10:56 am
I haven’t seen these, what fun! Those purple walls though (Zappa)! Also, I can see that Grace’s mother gave her some physical beauty!
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March 15, 2021 at 8:47 am
The resemblances were fun to see. I especially loved the picture of Joe Cocker with his mother. It just spoke volumes about their relationship.
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March 14, 2021 at 12:00 pm
That little dog in Donovan’s mother’s lap….
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March 15, 2021 at 8:47 am
He was so great about those little details!
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March 14, 2021 at 12:33 pm
Reminds me that Cher and her mother not long ago did a DVD together. Yes, I am a huge Cher fan. All of today’s posts are great. Happy to see them — Hal
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March 15, 2021 at 8:48 am
I love Cher, too! When I was very young, I had convinced myself that she was my birth mother. lol.
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March 15, 2021 at 2:39 pm
Wonderful post. Thanks!
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March 16, 2021 at 8:53 am
Thank you!
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