Peter Beard: A Wild Life is a lovely little film of photographer Peter Beard working on a collage at his studio on Montauk, Long Island. He is widely known for his photographs both of pop stars like Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol and of the tragic destruction of elephant herds in Africa. Here at age 75, he has distilled his thoughts about his work and life:

I like things that don’t look like you’re in control. It’s like life itself. You just learn how to benefit from accidents and chances you take. 

You can read more about Beard’s collage practice here. And because it’s the weekend, we’ve thrown in a tour of his Montauk property. 

With thanks to Susan Dworski

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2 replies on “peter beard: learn how to benefit from accidents and chances you take

  1. I love this man, in a few moments Peter said everything about life…….and what we are doing to it. Nature keeps creating and moving one way or another with man as it’s enemy….when will we learn or will we,… will we become those elephants and die.

    I love your site, it changes my life in so many ways, small and large. It’s an amazing surprise how something may seem insignificant at the time can spark a movement, physically or mentally. All it takes is that one second to stop, listen, or read and allow it to take hold of us.

    Thank you for doing what you do.

    Cheers
    Francesca

  2. Thanks for your really heartening words!!!

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