Ed Tangen, the Pictureman: A Photographic History of the Boulder Region, Early Twentieth Century

by thomas-j-meier-ed-tangen

Ed Tangen took over 16,000 photographs in and around Boulder, Colorado between 1906 and 1951. For thirty of those years, he lived in a tent on Canyon Boulevard.

383 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an old photo of my grandfather’s that was taken by Ed Tangen, the subject of this book. Tangen photographed my grandfather, his brother, and two of their friends in 1911 as they looked out on Barker Reservoir. They were just kids—Tangen’s favorite subject matter. I wanted to find out more about Tangen, so I bought this book. The facts are few about Tangen’s life. The reader does get a sense of who Tangen was through his photos that were included in the book. Those same photos provide an intimate look at Boulder County, Colorado’s early years 1900s.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know a little more about the man who took some interesting and unusual photos of the Front Range. The book focuses mainly on his photo record. Apparently very little is known about his life.

Here are a few of the facts:
• Born in Norway in 1873, his family emigrated to the U.S. when he was six years old.
• He was orphaned at the age of 16, but he wasn't totally alone; he had two younger sisters.
• It seems that tuberculosis may have been the reason for his moving to Boulder.
• He was a confirmed bachelor. Photography seems to have been his greatest passion.