Image Maker
An unusual garden of cacti and succulents against a mountain backdrop caught the attention of J. Walter Collinge, whose evocative black-and-white photograph hints at Santa Barbara’s varied landscape.
Written by Joan Tapper
The popular impression of Santa Barbara owes a lot to photographer J. WALTER COLLINGE, who arrived in 1918 and shot local architecture and Montecito estates, gardens and beaches, and the city’s cultural life. Collinge was a friend of G. W. Smith and his go-to photographer when it came to shooting that architect’s designs, from Florestal in Hope Ranch to the Meridian Studios downtown, among others. An avid boatman, Collinge also photographed the Haida, the yacht owned by Max Fleischmann, yeast company heir and local philanthropist. His pictures promoted Fiesta, memorialized the palominos raised by Santa Barbara mover and shaker Dwight Murphy, and captured the members of the Denishawn Dance Company. In fact, among Collinge’s best-known work is the Fairy Ring, an evocative nude featuring that troupe’s dancer Doris Humphrey. His work is on exhibit at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum through May 11. sbhistorical.org
Garden. Photo by J. Walter Collinge (1883–1964). Courtesy Santa Barbara Historical Museum
