HCB article

[tom h.]

short, informative Cartier-Bresson article.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3033839.stm

 

Tom.

[walt_delesandri]

No matter how long I live, no matter how long I work

in art departments, I'll NEVER figure out what folks

see/have seen/continue to see in HCB.

And no, as we joke in our band, I am NOT 'ignernt' (sp).

Walt

[andrew n.bra hrefhttp]

Okay Walt - I'll bite. So who do you like instead?<P>

 

Although I'm no mindless fan of <U>everything</U> HCB has done, some of his

images are pretty stunning (and inspirational - to me).

[Allen Herbert]

Subtle stories,that's what H is about. You can see them, or you can't.

[tom h.]

I'm not a rabid fan myself, but it was well written and short and

I've counted more than one disciple around here, hence the

post. I liked the reference to Minor White.

 

Tom

[tony_terlecki]

Will someone please clear something up for me.... I was under the distinct impression that HCB died a couple of years ago, yet the BBC article says he is still alive and living in Paris. Is it just that everyone seems to talk about him so much in the past tense that I assumed he was gone from us?

[lee_shively]

He's still around and just had a birthday. He's probably talked about in the past tense because he hasn't done much photography in recent years.

 

Walt, I was also mystified by HCB for many years. I still can't see the "magic" in the blurred photo of the guy jumping a puddle. But I've come to appreciate much of his work. It's a taste I had to develop--like a taste for beer back when I was a kid and all my friends guzzled the stuff and I couldn't stand it. Now I love beer. Too much, sometimes.

[nicholas_t.]

Regarding the 'puddle' photograph, 'Behind the Gare St. Lazare', you have to remember the context in which this photograph was taken - 1932. The decisive moment had yet to be realised and photographs like this were very unusual.<p/>

Regarding Cartier-Bresson's potency of imagery, if you like, I agree with a previous posted who called his work subtle. It is and there is no better term for it. But, he has also many 'stand out' images, who can't forget the Russian photograph with the school girls and the photograph of the skyline held above their heads. The French group on the bank of the river having lunch (I can't remember the names of these photos)...<p/>

Thanks Tom, I thought he was dead as well, dunno why (?), also for starting a discussion *about photography* which is nice, if unusual for this forum (FS, mint black M3 with DR 'cron w/specs...).

[ray .]

Composition, shape, light, moment, blur, tonal contrasts, subject content....Cartier-Bresson made superb use of the fundamental elements of photography as great musicians use melody, harmony, time, color.... in music. Even if he's not your cup of tea, what's not to get if you're a student of the medium?

[r_quan]

HCB's birthdate is August 22, 1908 so his 95th birtday is a few months away. Some people on this list are indicating that it is already past.

[andrew n.bra hrefhttp]

Hmm, three days now and no follow-up post from Walt. Guess the guy was just

a(nother) troll. (Sigh...)

[walt_delesandri]

No, it wasn't a troll....believe it or not, I have a

life on the weekends (though pitiful it may be)...was up

most of the night friday playing with band in Arlington,

then daughter had a contest saturday at school, then

played again most of saturday nite...not much computer

time this weekend!...but it WAS me, and not a troll!!!

 

I agree that HCB has some nice images, mostly his environmental

portraits...but many of us do acquire a few over the (many)

years...as to the previous question as to who I prefer,

W. Eugene Smith tops the list, tho there are WAY too many

to list here...

At the risk of another of my "sour grapes" posts, I understand

that HCB was well-heeled all of his life...i.e., wasn't

dependent on photography for his existence...and with that

comes "artistic freedom"...no editors breathing down the neck,

no "day job" to hold down...add to this the fact that he

has "lived in interesting times", and beautiful places...not

"too" hard to produce some nice photos.

I also risk criticism in pointing out that he apparently was

none too technical, and relied on some very professional lab

services, custom and cost-no-object, apparently. (warning-sour

grapes to follow)...as a long time lab employee, I can tell

you that MORE THAN HALF of the "art" of b&w is post-exposure...

and yes, I've seen some negs from "famous" photographers that

my poor $7.00/hour friends have produced MAGNIFICENT prints from...

no small feat...I've always enjoyed discussions about the "meter"

he has in his head...bullshit... give 2/3 of the credit to his

printers...I just can't see the lab telling him to take his

impossible crap somewhere else (that's what they'd tell any

of you)>

 

It's the same in music, a few get acclaim while hundreds pound

away night after night for $75, to drunken folks watching the

ball game...so I have to step in for the "little guys"...pretty

wierd for a near-Republican, huh?>.....

 

Please understand that I >DO< like some of his work, I have been

a long time fan of environmental portraiture, and prefer the

existing light, small format variety.

Also please understand that my sour grapes attitude is NOT

the cause of my lack of photographic output, I take full

responsibility for that myself (combination of burnout and

other interests/apathy/laziness).

 

Walt