Tom Millea: Wet Hair,

Tom Millea (American, 1944-2015)

Tom Millea began taking photographs at a young age, but he turned to photography intently only after completing a BA at the University of Western Connecticut. From 1967 to 1973 he studied independently with photographer Paul Caponigro, which he has described as a pivotal experience. During this period, Millea worked primarily as the director of the Underground Gallery in New York City, and as Director of Photography at the Photo-Graphics Workshop in New Canaan, Connecticut. In 1973 Millea moved to Carmel, California, where he began focusing on his own work, primarily portraits and landscapes.

During the 1970s Millea was among the first contemporary photographers to return to using the platinum/palladium printing process, a time-consuming method developed in the 19th century that yields a greater tonal range than silver-based processes. At the time, this interest put him at odds with the dominant tastes in photography, and with the photography community in Carmel, which was dominated by the influential Ansel Adams. The chemicals involved also impacted his health. In the decades since, he continued to pursue figure and landscape photography, while teaching and occasionally acting as a curator.

He died in 2015, recognised both as a master of the platinum process and as an excellent photographer. His work is in almost every major photography museum in the world including LACMA, MOMA, the Smithsonian, and many others.