Norma Desmond Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p><em>[i am posting this for Rick Helmke, whose turn it is this week and who was having some technical difficulties. This is Rick's choice and the following is Rick's introduction to the photo.]</em></p><p>My choice of photograph this week is <a href="http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2010/02/drum-major-lg72.jpg">"DRUM MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN"</a> 1950 by Alfred Eisenstaedt. Photojournalism has always been my favorite thing to do with a camera and what I've spent most of my time doing the last few decades. Something about covering mischief, murder and mayhem appeals to me. I've always preferred photographing what I find instead of setting something up and enjoy that work from others. </p><p>This photograph has appealed to me since probably my junior high days. Most of what is done for news outlets is either incredibly dull or tragic. This one makes me smile every time. It's a perfect example of why we should not only carry a camera with us everywhere but have it set and ready to use instantly and to keep our eyes open. The best part, to me is the simple joy on the faces of everyone in it. A fully dressed drum major, where do we ever see that? And to be high stepping and followed by a bunch of kids having a great time. None of the world intruding, no responsibilities looming, no place anyone apparently has to be except right there. And the moment passed. I think Eisenstaedt got no more than 4 or 5 frames of the whole thing. I suspect most of the best journalism was done like this. On the way to somewhere else and it jumps out at you giving you only an instant to see it and capture it, shooting only a few frames and one of them becomes an icon. I find this to be true in my own work. The best ones, only a few that have stayed with me, presented themselves only for a moment and were gone. Even with a motor drive only a few frames were made as I moved on. These few moments are why I have a passion for photography instead of a passing interest.</p> We didn't need dialogue. We had faces! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_south Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>What a joyful image! It makes me want to head over the park and run around a field. I'll reflect on the technical aspects of the image and post again later, but this is my first impression: pure childlike joy!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James G. Dainis Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I think I first saw that photo in Life (?) magazine in the later 1950s. I was much impressed with it even though I was only a junior high schooler at the time. I'm surprised to see that it was taken in 1950. Was it republished in the magazine at a later date or was it only published at a later date than when it was taken? At any rate it is a wonderful photo, one that I have not forgotten in more than half a century. James G. Dainis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah_fox Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>To me, one of the more impactful elements in this photo is the little girl on the end. My eye is first drawn to the drum major with the strong lines of his dramatic step. Then my eye moves through the succession of children behind him, each one bringing a growing smile to my face, until I get to the little girl skipping along (?) with her arms waving through the air. It's then that I can't help but chuckle!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelChang Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Rambunctious moments shared with children like this is magic. I find myself sharing their joy more than appreciating the photo, which in the end is the purpose of photography.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhbebb Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Typical of LIFE at its best - a skilled photographer given the right editorial backing and enough time to come up with a classic image. They're not making them like this any more - photogs who want to do photojournalism have to fund it and publish it themselves and can only dream of reaching numbers like LIFE's readership!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>A charming and fun slice of life. The power of a good photograph resides in its totality. You do not care to search for imperfections. You do not care whether it was staged or spontaneous. You do not care if it was retouched (as they said back in those pre-Photoshop days). </p> <p>Just think. Today all those children are all old men and women. Perhaps the drum majorette is still around.</p> <p>A wonderful photograph. Nothing else I can say.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Kahn Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>All I can add to what's already been said: If Alfred Eisenstaedt hadn't shot it, Norman Rockwell would have had to paint it...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>It is a truly sweet photo ! It exudes charm, innocence and simple joy. It certainly adds a balance to photos like this :</p> <p>http://life.time.com/history/goebbels-in-geneva-1933-behind-a-classic-alfred-eisenstaedt-photo/#1</p> <p>If looks could kill?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Kahn Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <blockquote> <p>If looks could kill?</p> </blockquote> <p>May well have done, in this case...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Herr Goebbels, knew that "Eise" (as his pals called him) was both Jewish and American. This may or may not have contributed to what the web site calls a "glowering"? But I'm sure it didn't help? <br /> Sorry for slightly hijacking the thread. I'm always amazed by the genius of Eisenstaedt. His photos all have a truthfulness to them. </p> <p>As Hitler's propaganda minister, Joe Goebbels avoided truth whenever possible.</p> <h1> </h1> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norma Desmond Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>To my eye, one of the great accomplishments of this photo is taking a jubilant and, perhaps, candid moment and creating what approximates a staged event. It is so isolated, so geometric, so well placed, the line of kids is so orderly yet exuberant, and plays within the rectangular schoolyard or park so intentionally. For me, this is truly an homage to the saying that all the world, whether planned or spontaneous, is (or at least can be) a stage. By all this I mean that it is a layered and textured photo, showing us how a photo of even spontaneous and joyful momentary expression surpasses or transcends itself to become an object of intention and appreciation. The great dialectical irony here is that Eisenstaedt may well have "found" this scene but with his timing, framing, vision, and sensibility he also created it. The significance of gesture, and exaggerated gesture at that, can't be overestimated here.</p> We didn't need dialogue. We had faces! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanKlein Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Fun picture; slice of life. What's interesting technically is that they're marching directly into the sun so all their shadows line up. Don't know if that helps the image or not. What do you think?</p> Flickr gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/albums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah_fox Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>I think that helps, Alan. It creates a clean line that the eye follows. However, I think the intent of the sun angle was to hit the people squarely in the face. It's really the contrasted line of faces I tend to follow. I suspect he had some choice in his sun angle, as the drum major was probably marching back and forth, to and fro.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerrySiegel Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>My first reaction was that this is a lively joke on the ceremonial marching style known as goose stepping, with the majorette doing a kind of goose step but with elan and smiles instead of the more martial serious parade march of many nation states and one I think of in particular. Frankly, I am sure I need to appraise it more to figure up additional elements that make it a joyful and gay little parade. A great still image that captures movement perfectly. I think I agree completely your thoughts above, Fred G. I mean you caught and well describe its joyful 'feel' and special qualities.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wogears Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>I am frequently cynical and misanthropic. My reaction to most of the 'heartwarming' images to which I am continually exposed is one of, "Yeah. They look happy. Most people don't." This, however, is genuine. Sure, it's a First World image, unlike many which Eisie shot, but it has a freedom and an openness that few others can equal. What I love about it is that the children aren't quite in step, and they don't care. Unlike so many Facebook memes, it does <em>not</em> beg any questions.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkins Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>That picture is fantastic, I really like it. It could so easily be a painting, it has an innocence to it that I like very much! - Pied Piper comes to mind.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelChang Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>The OP linked image appears to be cropped. This version gives a little more breathing space ahead of the drum major:<br> <a href="http://anndean.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v17/p238170483-3.jpg">http://anndean.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v17/p238170483-3.jpg</a></p> <p>This is another from the sequence:<br> <a href="https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/7/16/1373977770584/Drum-major-practice-1950--005.jpg">https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/7/16/1373977770584/Drum-major-practice-1950--005.jpg</a></p> <p>What I dislike about these older images scattered online is that you never know how representative they are of the original print. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanKlein Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 The first picture with the high kick is definitely better. The version with more room on left follows the "rules". Did he know this type? Flickr gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/albums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelChang Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Alan, the OP linked photo looks definitely cropped. Both are 4x3 aspect ratios and you can clearly identify the differences, so it appears Alfred Eisenstaedt did intend to leave some breathing space ahead of the drum major. <br> <br> The OP image is as it appeared in LIFE magazine as seen in the LIFE photo collection hosted by the Google Cultural Institute:<br> <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/michigan-band/dgEjss6CdS-ktQ">http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/michigan-band/dgEjss6CdS-ktQ</a></p> <p> <br> Further to the Google Cultural Institute, it contains the entire LIFE photo collection of over 6 million images. It also contains many art masterpieces from participating museums around the world, many in high resolution:<br> <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home">http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/life-photo-collection">http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/life-photo-collection</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanKlein Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Apparently the Life editor didn't know the rules! :)</p> <p>Thanks for the links.</p> Flickr gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/albums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyanatic Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 <p>Somewhat like Les, I tend to be a touch misanthropic. But I truly enjoy this photograph. The first time I saw it was several years ago when my wife bought me a copy of "The Family of Man". It really stood out for the feeling of unrestrained joy and honesty. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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