Allan Douglass Coleman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 19, 1943. His dad’s family came from Russia and Poland, and his mom’s family was Scottish. When he was young, his family moved to France for a while during a time when there were political tensions in the United States. While in France, he learned to speak French fluently. They also briefly lived in England before returning to the U.S.

Other than these times abroad, he grew up in Manhattan. He attended several schools there, including P.S. 41 and P.S. 3 in Greenwich Village, then Stuyvesant High School, and later Hunter College, which is now called Lehman College.

While he was at Hunter College, Allan Douglass Coleman was involved in different activities. He worked on the college newspaper, the Hunter Arrow, and the school’s literary magazine, Echo. In 1963, he wrote a short play called “Midnight Mass,” and it was published in Echo. This play upset a conservative Catholic newspaper called The Tablet, which led to a big controversy. Some people even wanted to censor all publications at the City University of New York (CUNY).

In the academic year 1963-1964, he became the top editor of the Hunter Arrow. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English Literature from Hunter in 1964 and was recognized for his achievements by being named a member of Sigma Tau Delta, which is an honors society for English studies.

Everything I do is me. I don’t like taking ideas from people unless they’re the G.O.A.T.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie

Allan Douglass Coleman was the very first person to write about photography as a critic for The New York Times. He wrote 120 articles about photography while he worked there. He began writing for the newspaper in 1967. He also wrote about photography for the Village Voice, The New York Observer, and many other magazines and books around the world.

In 1974, American Photo Magazine recognized him as one of the top 100 important people in the world of photography. In 1995, Coleman started an online magazine called The Nearby Café.

Some of his famous publications include:

1. “Light Readings: A Photography Critic’s Writings, 1968-1978” (1979): This book compiles a decade of Coleman’s critical writings on photography and is considered a significant work in the field.
2. “Critical Focus: Photography in the International Image Community” (1995): In this book, Coleman explores the global photography community, its trends, and its cultural impact.
3. “Tarnished Silver: After the Photo Boom: Essays and Lectures, 1979-1989” (1996): This publication delves into the post-photography boom era and its implications for the art and culture of photography.
4. “Depth of Field: Essays on Photography, Mass Media, and Lens Culture” (1998): In this collection of essays, Coleman discusses various aspects of photography, including its relationship with mass media and cultural significance.
5. “Looking at Photographs: Animals, A Visual Introduction to the Animal Kingdom in Photographs” (2009): Coleman contributed to this book, which showcases a collection of animal-themed photographs.

Here are some notable achievements and awards of Allan Douglass Coleman:

• In 1976, Allan Douglass Coleman received a special fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). He was the first photography critic to ever get this fellowship.
• In 1993, he was a guest scholar at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.
• In 1994, he became a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Sweden, which is a prestigious academic program.
• In 1996, he was recognized as the Ansel and Virginia Adams Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona.
• In 2002, he received the Culture Prize from the German Society for Photography. He was the first photography critic to ever receive this award.

Apart from these books, Allan Douglass Coleman has written numerous essays, articles, and reviews on photography and related topics. His writings have appeared in various publications, including The New York Times, The Village Voice, The New York Observer, and many photography magazines and artist monographs. His extensive body of work has had a significant impact on the field of photography criticism and scholarship. Please note that my knowledge is based on information available up to September 2021, and there may have been new publications or developments since then.