[Leica] Perhaps HCB isn't as outstanding a portraitist as he was a "street photographer - and other heretical thoughts

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

> > And  I'm afraid I must say that I find the majority of these photos
> > tremendously unremarkable.
>
> Gasp!  Heresy!  Guards!!!!  Arrest this man....
>
> Well, now that someone else has said it, yeah - I don't think
> HCB cuts it as
> a portraitist.  He's got some nice friendly relaxed pictures
> of some very
> famous people, but I didn't come away with a lot of new
> insights into their
> character.
>
> Paul Chefurka

WOW! I certainly don't disagree, and while we're baring our souls...I'd like
to suggest that Eisenstadt was and is greatly overrated. Yes, some of his
images are iconic. But that doesn't mean they are automatically great
photographs. Even he has acknowledged that the Times Square kiss is not a
particularly remarkable photo. Most of his photos appear to be the result of
his having gained access to the rich and famous, which is a credit to the
power of Life, and also to what is pretty universally described as his own
wonderful personality. But those photos of the rich and famous live on, I
would contend, because of who they are of, not because, with some
exceptions, they are in and of themselves great photographs. I know, I know,
the photo of Goebels is truly remarkable. But that doesn't make Eisie a
"great."

But, hey, everybody who is vaguely interest in photography knows who he
is..so...