Dennis Stock, a photographer known for his iconic images of James Dean, countless captures of jazz musicians and portraits of the cultural and physical landscape, passed away on Monday in Florida. As a member of Magnum Photo agency for nearly fifty years, Stock was also the author of 27 books and a regular contributor to the New York Times Lens Blog.

Dennis Stock, 1968, Venice Beach Rock Festival

The MoCP uses its collection of over 8,000 images to instruct students on a variety of subjects during docent-led sessions in its print study room. Dennis Stock�??s portfolio of images documenting James Dean, made just months before Dean�??s death, beautifully illustrates how a photographer and subject can work collaboratively to reveal identity through a series of portraits. Each of the ten images in the portfolio functions like words in a sentence to provide insight on Dean�??s life and character from his youth on a farm in small town Indiana to his now iconic walk through Times Square in the rain. Stock�??s images confirm Dean�??s status as a beautiful and brooding outsider, but further suggest that Dean was studious as well as mischievous.

Dennis Stock, Untitled, from James Dean: A Memorial Portfolio

In an intimately reflective text that accompanies the portfolio, Stock remembers his many encounters, especially his first meeting, with James Dean. Affectionately referring to Dean as �??Jimmy,�?� Stock recalls previewing the film East of Eden and, upon witnessing Dean�??s talent and enthusiasm, feeling the immediate need to collaborate with Dean to produce a photo-essay of his life. About his project pitch to Dean, Stock writes, �?�The story, as I explained it, was to reveal the environments that affected and shaped the unique character of James Byron Dean.�?� If you have ever seen the portfolio, you are witness to how well Stock�??s vision and images embody the project�??s aim. The time spent with Dean in his hometown of Fairmount, Indiana, New York, and Hollywood afforded Stock the opportunity to know, �??or at least glimpse, the real James Dean.�?�

MoCP Manager of Education, Corinne Rose, was asked to share a few words about the James Dean Memorial Portfolio, a portfolio that she and the docents so often use: �??This body of work succeeds not just because it depicts a famous and beautiful subject. It works because Stock skillfully married the content of the images to his form, a masterful use of fundamental photographic technique, including use of existing light, framing and composition. For these reasons the museum�??s docents share this portfolio with several groups each week. Ironically, I shared this body of work with a group of students on the evening of January 12, 2010 and we spend a lot of time discussing the merits of Stock�??s work. I learned the next morning that Stock had died that night. I hope he somehow felt our praise.�?�

Read more and view slideshows at Magnum Photo and the NYT Lens Blog.

View James Dean: A Memorial Portfolio online.