William Garnett

a group of 5 photographs, including 'Sand Dune, Death Valley, California - Sand Dune #8,' and 4 others, 4 signed and one titled by the photographer and 4 titled and dated in an unidentified hand in pencil and each with the photographer's copyright/reproduction stamp on the reverse, matted, 1951-79, printed 1970-80 (Aerial Photographs, pls. 17, 36, 40, variant, and 66) (5)

Collection of the photographer

By descent to Jay M. Garnett, son of the photographer

This group of photographs is in generally excellent condition. In each the corners are lightly bumped and there is very minor wear on the edges. 'Erosion, Tehachappi Foothills, California, 1951' - Visible in raking light is a very minor soft handling crease in the lower left quadrant. 'Desert Sagebrush near Kelso, Calif' - There is a very small, soft handling crease in the lower right quadrant, which is barely visible except in raking light. 'Sand Dune, Death Valley, California, Sand Dune #8, 1954' - Visible in raking light is a 1/8-inch crescent-shaped indentation in the lower right quadrant, which appears to be retouched. 'Reflection of the Sun on Rice Farm, near Willows, Calif.' - In raking light, a pinpoint indentation is visible in the upper right quadrant, which does not break the emulsion. 'Two Trees on Hill with Shadows, Paso Robles, California, 1974' - No additional condition issues.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Chicago native William Garnett, an alumnus of Los Angeles's Art Center School, had had a varied photographic career as an architectural photographer, as a forensic photographer for the Pasadena Police Department, and as a Signal Corps cameraman during World War II, when he began the distinctive aerial photography for which he is known.

Garnett learned to fly, buying a Cessna 170-B in 1956, so that he could have greater control over his efforts, photographing out of the plane's window with 35mm cameras.  The resulting photographs, in black and white and color, and in a range of formats, exhibit an astonishing array of abstract patterns, textures, and details.

A three-time Guggenheim fellow and professor emeritus of Landscape Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Garnett held his first one-man show at George Eastman House in 1955.  His photographs appeared in Fortune magazine regularly from 1954 to 1964, and in a number of exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art, including The Family of Man and Diogenes with a Camera IV.  Garnett's photographs were used by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill founding partner and environmentalist, Nathaniel Owings, to illustrate his 1969 book, The American Aesthetic.