Al Clayton

BIOGRAPHY OF AL CLAYTON

Photojournalist

Illustrator



1934 Born in Etowah, TN.

1939 Moved to Copperhill, TN.



1952 Graduated from Copperhill High School. Salutatorian in a class of about 15.



1952 Joined U.S. Navy. Became Hospital Corpsman and medical photographer.



1958 Discharged from Navy and entered ART CENTER SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES.

1961 Left Art Center School and moved to Atlanta. Worked for JEROME DROWN STUDIO and GRAPHIC ASSOCIATES shooting advertising jobs.



1962 Went into partnership and formed MILLER, CLAYTON & MATTHEWS STUDIO.



1965 Moved to Nashville and worked for ILUSTRATION DESIGN GROUP.

1967 Received assignment from Pat Watters at SOUTHERN REGIONAL COUNCIL to photograph conditions of the poor and dispossessed in the American South. These photographs were used by Senator Robert Kennedy and Senator Joseph Clark in their hearings on hunger and malnutrition in the U.S. These photos were said to be a strong influence in passing the Food Stamp Act.

1968 Opened studio, AL CLAYTON, PHOTOGRAPHER, in Nashville and received magazine assignments from LOOK, LIFE, NEWSWEEK, TIME,U. S. NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES, ESQUIRE, etc..

1969 Published STILL HUNGRY IN AMERICA.

Coauthored with Robert Coles

Introduction by Senator Edward M. Kennedy

This was a book on substandard living conditions in the American South.

Exhibited at the JEWISH MUSEUM in New York City with Dorthea Lange's work :

"DORTHEA LANGE - DUST BOWL, 1930's"

"AL CLAYTON - THE PRESENT SOUTH, 1960's"

1969 Covered the war in Biafra for Look Magazine.

Awarded the OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB CITATION FOR EXCELLENCE for this story. BEST COVERAGE OF FOREIGN NEWS EVENT, 1969.

1970 Photographed A MIND TO STAY HERE. Written by John Egerton.

Began photographing album covers for Columbia Records, Capricorn Records, Warner Brothers, R.C.A. and other record companies.

1971 Photographed HILLBILLY WOMEN. Written by Kathy Kahn.

This was a study of twelve Appalachian women.

1972 Returned to Atlanta and opened studio, AL CLAYTON, PHOTOGRAPHER.

1987 Photographed SOUTHERN FOOD. Written by John Egerton.

1988 Won CLIO AWARD for WORLDWIDE ADVERTISING EXCELLENCE.

1989 Published COVENANT. Words by Will Campbell.



In addition to my photojournalism work, I have continued to do commercial, advertising and corporate photography since 1961. Over the years I have won several awards from the NEW YORK ART DIRECTORS CLUB, ATLANTA ART DIRECTORS CLUB, NASHVILLE ART DIRECTORS CLUB, GRAPHIS, and others.

I presently live and work in Jasper, GA.

AL CLAYTON

Photo Illustrator

Photojournalist

AL CLAYTON, INC.

541 Edgewood Ave., S. E.

Atlanta, Ga. 30312

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