"I was very serious about photography and remember thinking, "God, if I could only take two or three great photos in my lifetime!"
~ Max Yavno (1911 - 1985)
Those of us who care deeply about photography—and the photographers who shaped it—can't get the images taken by Max Yavno out of our minds. He was not only a remarkable talent, but a wonderful personality, and one of the earliest photographers I had the privilege to know.
Originally from New York and trained at The Photo League, his background as a social worker gave him a deeply humanistic eye. Whether in New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, he captured the spirit of urban life with rare empathy and clarity.