In Memoriam - Bill Coleman - Forum

Bill Coleman - 1924-2014

A long time resident of State College and lifelong photographer Bill Coleman died on 1/29/14. He was one of the characters of the business, always making new work, new friends, new enemies and driving art fair committees crazy. The public loved him and his work.

We first met him at Boston Mills (OH) sometime in the '80's. He was probably in his 50's and was recovering from open heart surgery, so of course he was shirtless showing off his amazing scars.

He was in love with the Amish. Living in central Pennsylvania he had found a "secret" valley. I don't believe a week went by that he didn't make the drive to the valley to take photos. He was a master photographer, not only making strong landscapes but also beautiful images of the children.

He would be mobbed at the art fairs, people standing in line to buy the photos. He was very successful. They were also published in books and some of the images were licensed. Bill set up a charitable foundation funneling some of his profits back to the Amish community.

When he was 82 he had a falling out with his long-time assistant Carl. Carl walked away just days before the State College show never to return. Bill tried to lure him back because he thrived on the shows and loved being there. After he had another stroke and heart attack a few years ago he found someone who still drove him to the valley to shoot. That driver was 91.

Bill Coleman, a dear friend, and one of the people who made others fall in love with art fairs.

His son Noah has become his business manager and continues to support the sale of the images. The funeral will be on 1/31/14 in State College. He will be buried near his friend Joe Paterno. There will be a memorial service in State College in May.

His website: AmishPhoto.com

Bill Coleman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Coleman-Fine-Art-Photographer/190400597653104

Photographer, music producer, and old friend Jack Stoddart says he doesn't remember how to post here and asked that I add his info to memorial:

I remember Bill so well. Everyone, well the jealous ones said he was an asshole. A self absorbed overgrown adolescent who roped people out of his booth. Bill didn't suffer fools gladly, and the business was full of them. I remember so well doing some street fair in Charlotte, having yet again a mediocre show. Just enough to keep going. It was getting late, I was in no hurry to pack up. I was sleeping in my van around the corner, might as well stay open and make another 20 bucks. Bill was staying at a nearby hotel, he'd closed his booth, gone upstairs and saw me out his window. He came all the way back to the street, told me to close up and then we went to the hotel bar where he drank beers and I drank water. He told me he knew my life was hard, that I was trying to do something good, not just something that would sell. He gave me tips on booth and image presentation, he gave me tips on how to deal with assholes. Bill Coleman did not have to take the time to talk to me, he wanted to. The last thing he said that night was I had a future. God bless Bill if there is one. He was a real good man. I miss him already.

Jack Stoddart

Replies

Jacki Bilsborrow February 2, 2014 at 11:09pm

I am so sorry to hear this news. I remember Bill and his playfully teasing phone calls. At first, I could never tell if he was being serious or not. Eventually I realized that he was just messing with me. I don't think I have ever seen a photo of his I didn't like. What a loss he will be to the world of photography.
Christina L. Towell February 2, 2014 at 9:40am

Sad news, Connie...thanks for letting us know about Bill Coleman's passing. I have been a fan of his since I've been a fan of Art Fairs and am proud to own one of his photographs. I can still remember the throngs of customers in and around his booth in Ann Arbor when I worked there and would cruise the art-filled streets on my lunch break.
- Connie Mettler > Christina L. Towell February 2, 2014 at 10:25am
  
  I had forgotten about the "roping off." People were so eager to get their hands on the photos that Bill and Carl could hardly finish setting up, so they would rope off the booth to keep them out!
Larry Berman January 31, 2014 at 5:40pm

Jack Stoddart said it well, especially his first two sentences.

Bill was a great photographer who (with Carl doing all the physical work) was also great at marketing for art shows. He was one of three or four very successful photographers who never sold anything framed. Everything was matted in bins. Framed work was only for display.

A great many photographers have learned a lesson from his marketing, myself included. Bill and I were friends and he turned to Chris Maher and myself to build his web site, not what you see if you go there now though.

He has been missed on the show circuit as he represented a different breed of art show photographer from a time that good money was to be made. Nikon even used one of his photos in their annual calendar, and in exchange they gave him unlimited use of a D100 digital camera and a few lenses. That was when he started shooting digital.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
- Connie Mettler > Larry Berman February 2, 2014 at 10:26am
  
  He told us years ago that Norm was going to get his Hasselblads in his will. We're waiting ...
  
  He was amazed at the digital possibilities and thrilled when he put the images under his enlarger to see what he could do.
Susan Neves January 31, 2014 at 4:42pm

His work is outstanding, in an area of the country I would love to visit and photograph as well. Thank you for posting about his passing and giving us, who didn't know him, a glimpse of his fine work.
Connie Mettler January 31, 2014 at 8:55am

Photographer, music producer, and old friend Jack Stoddart says he doesn't remember how to post here and asked that I add his info to memorial:

I remember Bill so well. Everyone, well the jealous ones said he was an asshole. A self absorbed overgrown adolescent who roped people out of his booth. Bill didn't suffer fools gladly, and the business was full of them. I remember so well doing some street fair in Charlotte, having yet again a mediocre show. Just enough to keep going. It was getting late, I was in no hurry to pack up. I was sleeping in my van around the corner, might as well stay open and make another 20 bucks. Bill was staying at a nearby hotel, he'd closed his booth, gone upstairs and saw me out his window. He came all the way back to the street, told me to close up and then we went to the hotel bar where he drank beers and I drank water. He told me he knew my life was hard, that I was trying to do something good, not just something that would sell. He gave me tips on booth and image presentation, he gave me tips on how to deal with assholes. Bill Coleman did not have to take the time to talk to me, he wanted to. The last thing he said that night was I had a future. God bless Bill if there is one. He was a real good man. I miss him already.

Jack Stoddart

This reply was deleted.