Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Actually, there was a reference to the dispute in a recent issue of one of the photo magazines. The gist of it was that checking records of the unit in the area, and checking the negs, indicated that the shot was probably genuine and not, as has been claimed, a set up. But who knows.,.. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Yods1@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 1998 3:28 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] "powerful pictures" Why quibble over the meaning of a "powerful" picture? You know what is meant by it. I saw a reference to Capa's Spanish soldier photograph. I'd be curious to know if Lugger's think it is still a great photograph even though it was probably set up (I'll get to that in a minute). I consider myself a photojournalist and stick to the usually strict ethics of the profession, but feel that I'm too partial to have a firm grasp on whether people really care if an image is staged or candid. About the photo: I did a term paper on Capa while in photo J. school at Indiana University. One of my references was biography on Capa (sorry, it's been too long to remember the title or author) and in it was a contact sheet of the entire roll of negatives on which that frame was taken, courtesy LIFE magazine as I recall. I seem to remember that particular soldier being in a similar pose on more than one frame, but what I remember in particular is that there were two distinctly different soldiers in the same dramatic pose--arms and head flung back, rifle falling away, etc. Same spot--same clouds in the background--same tufts of grass at their feet--two different people, wearing different clothes. It doesn't take a Leica scientist to figure out the improbability of Capa photographing one solder being shot, then another in the same spot/pose after the first was hauled off. I just don't think so. But would people care if they knew? Dave Y.