He photographed Christopher Reeve and a rather bare Charlize Theron, but Saturday, 78 portraits of cowboys, pioneers and even an oil-rig worker will be reintroduced to the Fort Worth audience.Almost one year after the death of world renowned photographer, Richard Avedon, the Amon Carter Museum brings home a portion of his original collection of portraits from “In the American West.”

Named one of the world’s Top 10 photographers by Popular Photography magazine, Avedon’s artistic talent crossed the paths of photography, advertising and writing. He collaborated with designers from brands such as Kenneth Cole, Levi’s and Dior for advertisements, and his articles could be read in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Avedon, well known for his portraits, said in 1970, “If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it’s as though I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up,” according to www.richardavedon.com.

His life dedication to photography is celebrated throughout almost 20 museums internationally.

According to the Web site, in 1994 Avedon said, “I’ve worked out of a series of no’s. No to exquisite light, no to apparent compositions, no to the seduction of poses or narrative. And all these no’s force me to the ‘yes.’ I have a white background. I have the person I’m interested in and the thing that happens between us.”

The magic that was created by Avedon from 1979 to 1984 in the American West can be seen Sept. 17 to Jan. 8.

“Look at an Avedon portrait: In it you will see, in action, the paradox of all great art, of all high art: The extreme finish of the image opens onto the extreme infinity of contemplation, of sideration,” Roland Barhes said in French Photo magazine.

Avedon died on assignment for “The New Yorker” magazine project “Democracy 2005” at age 81