Photo Exhibit

[Joel Tlumak <JT@JMBM.COM>]

An outstanding photo exhibit called "Russia in Black and
White" by Russian photojournalist Yevgeny Khaldei (using a
prewar Leica) is running at the San Francisco Jewish
Museum until July 17, 1997.  The exhibit covers Khaldei
photos during World War II in Russia and the post-war period
in Russia, East Germany, Nuremberg, Potsdam, etc .  These
are not just war and important historical photos but also
humanistically touching photos.  There are over 100 photos on
exhibit. You get a well-rounded picture of life in Russia during
and after World War II.  There are among the photos many
great ones, but throughout the photos are consistently superb.
I believe Khaldei's work, recently rediscovered, is on par with
Eisenstadt's and Capa's work. Incidentally, Khaldei captures
Capa in one photo. 

This exhibit is another example of the fine photos you can
capture with screwmount Leicas and, incidentally, 1930 
lenses (Leica lenses, I presume). One description at the
exhibit of Khaldei's work notes that he used for his
photography a "Russian Leica" (FED) and a "German Leica,"
with a friend hiding his Russian Leica as he went to war with
the German Leica. And, yes, the photos in 8x10s, 11x14s and
16x20s are more than adequately sharp.  The photos were
obviously by a long time photojournalist who was, without
question, a sensitive artist, a fact displayed but some great
mood photos.  Khaldei was a photojournalist for Russian
newspapers, and throughout his career in Russia came in and
out of favor because of his being Jewish. He is still alive and
in one published interview appears in a photo with a
screwmount Leica around his neck.

The Jewish Museum is located at 121 Stuart Street at Mission
Street in San Francisco. Admission is $5, free during the first
Monday of each month.  San Francisco is only the second
location for this exhibit (the first was on the East Coast). 
Khaldei's work is still virtually unknown, but not for long, as a
book on his photos is expected in nine months to a year from
Aperture.