Adolf "Papa" Fassbender known affectionately to his students was born in Cologne, Germany, began his photographic career in 1897 as an apprentice. He moved to the United States in 1912 and worked for the Selby Sisters Studio and then for Pirie MacDonald who was New York's famed society photographer. He operated his own studio for five years before deciding, in 1927, to spend the rest of his life teaching and making art. In 1927, following the lead of Alfred Stieglitz, "Papa" Fassbender devoted himself solely to creating artistic photographs, joining the ranks of photographers labeled the "Pictorialists". His iconic photographs, created in the 1930's through the 1950's, highlight the drama between light and dark. Fassbender wrote several classic texts on photography, and was a founding member of the Photographic Society of America. Papa, inducted into the Photography Hall of Fame upon his death in 1980, had numerous degrees and awards, including an Honorary Fellowship and Progress Medal from the Photographic Society of America. He was also awarded an Honorary Master of Photography, Master of Photography and was the George Harris Award from the Professional Photographers of America. His influence was also felt overseas as he had been given Honorary Fellowships in both the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and the Institute of Incorporated Photographers of Great Britain. Adolf Fassbender died in New Jersey in 1980. (© Domeischel Gallery LTD; http://www.domeischelgallery.com/photos_fass.html) undefined

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