Acclaimed actress Diane Keaton, who passed away over the weekend, was widely celebrated for her iconic roles in "The Godfather" and numerous Woody Allen films. However, beyond her distinguished acting career, Keaton harbored a deep passion for photography and visual arts that resulted in the publication of at least four photography-related books, two of which featured her own photographic work.
Keaton's photographic journey began in earnest during the 1970s when she traveled extensively with her favorite camera, a Rolleiflex. This period of exploration culminated in her first photography book, "Reservations" (1980), a compelling visual documentation of forgotten and unloved American hotels. The book showcased Keaton's distinctive artistic vision through square black and white photographs captured using direct flash photography techniques.
"Reservations" also served as an early indicator of Keaton's broader interests in interior design and architectural aesthetics. This fascination would later manifest in two additional publications: "The House that Pinterest Built" (2017), which served as a comprehensive style guide for home decoration, and "California Romantica" (2019), an in-depth exploration of Southern California's distinctive architectural heritage.
Despite her published works and obvious talent behind the lens, Keaton remained characteristically modest about her photographic abilities. "I shoot the pictures, but I'm not doing them in any big way. I just like it. I like images," she told House Beautiful magazine. "If I see a tree that looks unusual, I'll just take a picture of it. I take a lot of pictures that go nowhere. But I enjoy it. And maybe someday I'll do something with them."
Keaton's passion extended beyond creating photographs to collecting and preserving photographic works by others. In an interview with The New York Times, she revealed an ambitious dream: to purchase every photography book ever published, acquire an old warehouse, and transform it into a massive public library dedicated entirely to image-driven publications. This vision reflected her deep appreciation for the medium and her desire to share visual art with the broader community.
Her most recent publication, "Saved: My Picture World" (2022), offered intimate insights into her lifelong fascination with collages and visual assemblages. The book explored her personal creative process and artistic methodology. "I'm just a person who cuts out paper, throws it up on the wall, or finds old photographs that I see at the swap meet and throw them up on the wall," Keaton explained to House Beautiful.
Keaton's collage work was extensive and deeply personal, representing decades of creative exploration. "I mean, I have tons of that – tons, tons, tons. And I have a very long table. And I like to play around with cutting objects and putting them in the same moment – maybe I present them as little collages. But nothing important," she humbly described her artistic process, though the resulting works clearly held significant meaning for her creative expression.
Through her photography books and visual art collections, Diane Keaton demonstrated that her artistic talents extended far beyond acting, revealing a sophisticated eye for composition, architecture, and the ephemeral beauty of everyday American life. Her photographic legacy stands as a testament to her multifaceted creativity and her genuine love for capturing and preserving visual moments.
