Famous+Photographer

=== The son of Cleveland and Lillian Hopkins, Douglas Hopkins grew up in [|Alaska] and [|Boston]. As a young man, Hopkins worked as a ranch hand in [|Montana]. In high school he spent a year in Europe studying German. He attended the [|University of California, San Diego] where he majored in physics and German literature. He later attended [|MIT], where he became a senior staff member of the MIT Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. === === At MIT he designed and deployed a system for measuring the ballistics of [|volcano] eruptions. From 1971 to 1973 he worked at several volcanic sites, including the Italian islands of [|Sicily] and [|Stromboli], as well as [|Guatemala] and [|Chile]. Hopkins' interest in commercial photography began to emerge while taking personal close-hand photographs of volcanic eruptions. === === In 1972 Hopkins completed an intensive program in teaching visual awareness with the reclusive Massachusetts Institute of Technology photography professor, Minor White, author of The Zone System Manual and colleague of Ansel Adams. With Dr. Kathleen Crane, Hopkins co-directed the science documentary film "Heat". The film, funded by the Charles Lindbergh Foundation, was about geothermal phenomena. === === Hopkins pursued a twenty-year career in commercial photography that has included staff, freelance, and consulting work. He has worked for numerous fashion, beauty, travel, and general publications, and his photographs have appeared in posters, books, and on national television. During his early years, Hopkins was innovative in the use of computers for photography-related business purposes. === === In the mid-1980s, at the beginning of the period known as perestroika, Hopkins travelled to Eastern Europe. At this time Hopkins became interested in fine fragrances and purchased the rights to the leading Soviet men’s cologne, Prastara. In 1989, Hopkins founded his own fragrance company. === === In January 1999, while on the Internet, Hopkins met a Russian woman, Oksana Katsuro, and began conversing with her via email. At the time, Ms. Katsuro was living and working as a nuclear engineer in [|Obninsk], [|Russia]. In August 1999, Ms. Katsuro moved to New York and on November 6 of that year, she and Hopkins were married. She obtained her PhD in fusion physics from [|Columbia University]. They have one daughter. === === Most recently, Hopkins has written a book, "Real Views", for amateur photographers that is scheduled to be released in 2011. Hopkins currently lives in [|New York City] and continues to direct his fragrance company. ===

Photography
Hopkins' approach to photography was influenced by the intensive visual awareness program he took with MIT professor Minor White. Some of Hopkins' early photographs of volcano eruptions appeared in popular and technical publications and textbooks. Working in this environment could be dangerous; regarding one of these photographs, Hopkins made the notation: "About 100 feet away. Almost ate it." [|[4]] During this period, his first photographic cover was published by “Harvard”, the university alumni magazine.After assisting several commercial and portrait photographers, Hopkins' first job in commercial photography was as a staff photographer for the [|Metropolitan Museum of Art]. By the early 1980s, Hopkins had free-lanced for [|Women's Wear Daily], Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Self. [|[1]] At that time, Hopkins was already using computers in his work to keep track of business contacts and to record photo shoot details, photo credits, and expenses. Having a technical background, he build a computer (a CPM-based Heathkit machine) and to write early business programs. His early computer work is described in a 1985 article which includes a picture of Hopkins with a young model in the background. He commented that this was the model's first shooting and she was so excited by the event that she fainted to the floor shortly after the photo was taken. [|[6]] During his photography career, Hopkins free-lanced for W, WWD, Vogue, Connoisseur, Harvard Magazine, Rolling Stone, Mademoiselle, Elle, Barrons, Cosmopolitan, New York Times, Revlon, Clairol, and L'Oreal. Some interesting comments on his work: Among the personalities Hopkins has photographed are Phoebe and Valerie Cates, Sharon Stone, Alexandra Paul, Mia farrow, and Andy Warhol. [|[7]] Hopkins has remained active in the photography field through commissioned portraits, exhibits, design awards, articles, lecturing, and teaching at The New School in New York City. He has also served as a consultant to clients such as [|Polaroid] and [|Fuji]. [|[1]] Regarding his new book, Hopkins calls it "a guide to creative vision for amateur digital photographers, a manual of creative visual awareness. I would like to enhance the amateur photographer’s ability to endow lasting images of ambience and emotion." [|[1]]
 * Hopkins photographed a cover shot for W magazine that featured supermodel [|Janice Dickenson] in a busy Times Square street. The cover was important because of the clothes worn by Ms Dickenson and was said by the publisher of W, John Fairchild, to be the best ever cover of W magazine. [|[1]]
 * In the early 1980s, Hopkins photographed an aerial view of a [|Steinway] Concert Grand piano, and the image became available as an art poster. Henry Z. Steinway would say that this photograph was “The best photo of a Steinway ever made.”
 * Hopkins photographed a book cover portrait for MIT professor and author Dr. Sherry Turkle. Wired magazine published a story on Dr. Turkle and noted that the photo was a turning point in her life.