Joining the chorus of people singing his praises, I’m so sorry to hear Jesse Alexander has died. That said, he had a good run, remaining productive for almost all of his 92 years. Jesse had a big career as a world-famous photographer, primarily deriving from his career as the European correspondent for Road & Track magazine, producing classic images of what is generally considered the golden age of motor racing. His work there was mostly about Formula 1 automobile racing, but he also took some brilliant shots of world championship motorcycle racing.
There is, however, much more to Jesse Alexander. He dodged the temptation of bringing a big ego to his professional success, always soft-spoken, unassuming, and supportive to so many other photographers who were fortunate enough to enter his sphere.
Photographically, his eye was more eclectic than the motor racing that had built his reputation. One of my favorite Road & Track articles featuring his work was about an antique Cretors Popcorn Wagon. He also pursued an interest in shooting old airplanes, some examples of which I had the pleasure of publishing as postcards. Probably growing out of the years he and his wife, Nancy, lived in Sandyland, he developed an appetite for photographing birds.
