Grave of Alvin Langdon Coburn, Llandrillo
Alvin Langdon Coburn (d.1966)
Alvin Langdon Coburn was a pioneering photographer, born in America. Wales was his adopted home, where he spent half his life. He lived his last 19 years in Rhos-on-Sea.
His reputation mainly rested on his talent as a photo-artist but he was also a technical innovator. He photographed famous politicians, such as President Roosevelt, artists and authors, including Mark Twain.
One of his most controversial photos was a nude study of the playwright George Bernard Shaw, which Shaw had requested when the two men were returning home from the unveiling of Auguste Rodin’s statue The Thinker. Shaw described Coburn as “one of the most sensitive artist-photgraphers now living”.Coburn also had an interest in mysticism and freemasonry.
He is pictured in the upper right photo. The lower photo was taken by him and shows a canal scene.