Paul Comon taught photography for six decades, from behind the counter
Paul and Shirley Comon on their wedding day in 1958.
by Kevin Cody
Paul Comon, founder in 1961 of Paul’s Photo in Torrance, passed away in March. He was 90 years old, and worked at his store until the start of the pandemic, according to his son Mark, who now owns the store.
Comon bought his first camera, a Kodak Retina, when he was deployed with the Torrance unit of the National Guard to the Korean War.
Upon his return, he began working at A1 Photography, which had four South Bay locations. When the A1’s owner retired, Comon bought the
Walteria store on Hawthorne Boulevard. In 1987, he moved the store to its present location, which is also on Hawthorne Boulevard.
He and his wife Shirley raised four children. Son Mark described his dad as an avid tinkerer, and collector of coins, books and cameras.
Comon also authored several books on photography. His book on composition, “Digital Designs: How to Compose Winning Pictures,” remains a popular reference book for photographers. A reviewer described the book as “part technical manual, part aesthetic treatise.”
Comon taught photography for many years through the Torrance Adult School, and taught photography every day in his store.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, with military honors. PEN
Paul Comon posing for a promotional shot in front of his neon lit store.