Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/04/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi! To add something to the HCB discussion: He started using screwmount Leicas and than switched to an M3. Later he also used an M6. As some other persons on this list already mentioned he almost exclusively used 50mm lenses, occasionally accompanied by 35mm oder 90mm lenses. [E.g., in his book with portraits, ALL pictures are taken with 50mm lenses.] According to an interview he gave some years ago he "never" used 135mm or longer lenses. Also, as most of you will know, he never used flashlight. Leica officials of course are very proud of him. [What better advertisement can you have then some of the best photographers of the world using your cameras?] He got several gifts from them including a Leica M with his name engraved. If my memory serves me right the serial number was 2000000. From what I've read I understand that he really uses that one. It is true that HCB gave up professional photography about twenty years ago but he still takes pictures with his Leicas. I recently saw a photo of him that was taken in 1994. In a French TV documentary he said that earlier he always had one or two cameras around his neck while he now carries them in his rucksack. BTW, a French author called Montier just wrote a seemingly very good book about Cartier-Bresson including many so far unpublished pictures. The title is "L'art sans art" and it is published by Flammarion. As far as I know an English edition will appear around June 1996. (Has anyone heard about a German translation?) Bye, Edi.