That Van Leo, he a good boy, take good picture. I tell you, he born long time ago, 1921. His real name long, Levon something. He come from them Armenia people. They run to Egypt when he little.
Van Leo, He Take Picture
He take picture of many people, famous people. Movie star, singer, all them. He also like take picture of himself. He make funny face, dress up like cowboy, like pilot. I don’t know why. He just like.
This Van Leo, he use that name, not real name. He pick it himself. I hear someone say it like a fake name, I don’t know what that means. He smart, though. He learn to take picture good.
Van Leo Life
- Born 1921, long time ago.
- His family, them Armenia people.
- They go Egypt when Van Leo little boy.
- He learn take picture.
- He take picture famous people.
- He like take picture himself, many many.
He live long time, that Van Leo. He die 2002. That’s like, 20 year ago! Time fly, I tell you. But his picture still here. People look at them. They say, “Oh, that Van Leo, he good photographer.” I think so too. He make good picture.
His family, they photographer too. Maybe that why he like it. He see them take picture, he want do it too. He learn from them, maybe. That how it is. You learn from your family.
Van Leo Picture
He take picture in black and white. No color. We don’t have color picture back then. Only black and white. But his picture good, even no color. You can see everything. The light, the dark. He good at that.
Some people, they call him artist. I don’t know about that. He just take picture. But they say he artist. They put his picture in museum. Big building, fancy. People go there, look at picture. They say, “Oh, very nice. Van Leo, he great artist.”
I see his picture one time. In a book. Someone show me. I say, “That good picture.” He make people look good, even old people like me. He know how use the light. Make you look younger, maybe.
That Van Leo, he smart. He know how make money too. He take picture of rich people, famous people. They pay him good money. He need money, everyone need money. You need money buy food, buy house.
He A Good Boy, That Van Leo
He work hard, that Van Leo. All day, take picture. He have studio, like a little house, just for take picture. People come there, he take their picture. He make them happy.
I think he good man, that Van Leo. He work hard, he make people happy. That what important. You work hard, you be nice to people. That all you need.
His picture, they like memory. You look at them, you remember. You remember the person, you remember the time. That long time ago, but picture still here. Like magic.
I don’t know much about this photographer thing. But I know good picture when I see one. And Van Leo, he take good picture. He make people look good, he make them happy. That all that matter.
He gone now, that Van Leo. But his picture still here. And people still remember him. They say he good photographer, good artist. I think they right. He good boy, that Van Leo.
You know, this Van Leo, he remind me of my neighbor’s boy. He also like take picture. He use that phone, you know, the little one, take picture all the time. Maybe he be like Van Leo one day. Who know?
This world, it full of surprise. You never know what gonna happen. One day you nobody, next day you famous. Like that Van Leo. He just a boy, then he famous photographer.
That’s all I know about this Van Leo. He a good photographer, take good picture. He make people happy. That what important. Remember that.
