HERMAN LEROY EMMET III, PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST DIES
January 21, 1943 November 4, 2021
Herman Emmet died peacefully on November 4th, 2021, in NY City. He was admired for his multiple artistic accomplishments, including his winning the 1987 Canon Photoessayist, 45th Annual Pictures of the Year Award, sponsored by the National Press Photographers Association. The NY Times reviewer, Judith Mara Gutman wrote of his Fruit Tramps, A Family of Migrant Farmworkers, “text and photographs echo and drive, rather than peacefully war with each other” (5/13/90). The father, LH Tindall said “I like the freedom, I choose the life. Fruit Tramps says what I am, Migrant don’t. We made it, She and I.” Several prints from the book are currently in the permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Life Magazine sponsored the project FRUIT TRAMPS, (12/1988, page 126-132) The 9-year project was featured in many shows and exhibits and publications such as GEO and Esquire. Cornell Capa’s Foreword to Fruit Tramps opined on Emmet’s talent as “My admiration for his work soars”. Emmet was nominated for a Pulitzer. For information: www.hermanleroyemmet.com
Herman had the remarkable capacity to combine the permutations of his varied talents, be it in music, linguistics, etymology, painting, writing, and photography. Another main passion was his musical talent; he was a classical guitarist, favoring Segovia.
He died from the complications of Parkinson’s disease. When in Army Intelligence in Vietnam and was exposed to the chemicals in Agent Orange causing Parkinson’s. After Vietnam, he served in Eritrea until 1971. Upon his return, he obtained an MFA at the Maryland Institute of Art.
He was born to Herman Emmet Jr., and Margaret V. Foster Emmet in Warham, MA., in 1943. He is a descendant of the Irish martyr, the Bold Robert Emmet. He attended the Fay School, then St Marks Preparatory School, both in Scarborough, MA. He studied French at Yale University’s summer sessions. He also studied French in Dijon, France, and graduated from Georgetown University 67’ with a degree in Linguistics. He was fluent in four languages.
In 1980, he married Jean Elaine Osborn at Trinity Church in NYC. Herman and Elaine lived on Central Park West and shortly thereafter they completed their family with a daughter and a son. In 1989, they moved to East Hampton, NY, to enjoy country life. Then, from 1994-2000, they resided in Paris, France, followed by one year in Barcelona, Spain. During these years, He worked on many different photo journalistic projects and wrote several books, yet to be published. In 2009, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was quite mild to begin but after about six years, he became wheelchair-bound, which he did not allow to curtail his ambition.
Yet, an astonishing change took place. He put down his cameras and began to paint on canvas. His photojournalism to date had primarily been black and white realism. His paintings are completely colorful, surreal, and full of surprise. How did the dopamine-deprived neurons in his brain affect this change in artistic talent? The answer to that question has not yet been discovered. In Winter Park, Florida, for the last six years, Herman painted constantly until Parkinson’s took its toll. He has had five shows in the last few years. Upcoming events are planned, as is a biography of his fascinating life. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award in the 2009 Key West Photography festival.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine, their children, Lilly O. Emmet (Avian Carey), Spencer O. Emmet (Ansley), two granddaughters, brothers, Reginold Byrne, William LeRoy Emmet, a sister, Mary Margaret Alvarez de Toledo, brothers-in-law, John B. Osborn and Thomas A. Osborn (Patricia) and many nieces and nephews.
As a 100% service-connected veteran, he will be interred, next year, at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Photos of Herman Leroy Emmet
