RE: [Leica] Salgado to speak in Seattle Feb 16

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

I probably did - read too much irony into your announcement.;-)

I don't know that I agree with you about his economics - and I have read the
various texts. But I certainly agree with what I gather to be your
admiration for Salgado and his work. In fact, I've gotten in trouble here
for suggesting that perhaps he is "the best" person out there today doing
the kind of documentary work he does. His mastery of film, light, etc., is
certainly unparalleled among documentary photographers and photojournalists.
To the point that there are those who argue quite strenuously that he so
beautifies poverty that he blunts the impact of the work. I disagree with
that view, and think that what the beauty of his work may actually do is get
people who might otherwise not look at photos of the "have nots" to actually
look at them, and see them. Although that may be wishful thinking on my
part.

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Mark
Davison
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 1:50 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Salgado to speak in Seattle Feb 16


B. D. Colen wrote in part:

> I don't know why stuff like this makes me crazy, but it does.;-) What
makes


In my book Salgado is a great economist because he has turned from the dry
side of measuring the economy in numbers to the laborious task of
documenting the painful human consequences of economic revolutions. If you
read the stories behind his pictures, included in some of his books as
appendices, he is still being an economist--rooting out the causes for the
suffering and displacement that he witnesses. But I believe he wants us to
see beyond GDP per capita figures. I would say he is practicing economic
photo-journalism.

I only mention that he uses Leicas because that is appropriate for the LUG,
which is formulated around brand enthusiasm.

Those who indulge in Leica use as a form of upper-class conoisseurship may
wish to avoid the Salgado talk--his images will not provide much comfort for
the view that unfettered markets always maximize human happiness.

B. D., You may have read too much irony into my announcement.

Mark Davison


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 9:41 AM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Salgado to speak in Seattle Feb 16


> I don't know why stuff like this makes me crazy, but it does.;-) What
makes
> Sebastio Salgado "the great economist?" Economist? Yes, he is, or was. But
> "great economist?" Based on what? Whose judgment? What reputation? Where?
>
> Great documentary photographer dedicated to using his art to drawing the
> attention of the world's "have's" to the plight of the "have nots?"
> Absolutely. He is a stunningly good photographer.
>
> And "Leica photographer?" Well, only if you would have called him an
> "Olympus photographer" back when Olympus was supporting him and he was
using
> Olympus gear. ;-)
>
> A truly great photographer, literally a "legend in his own time," who uses
> Leica gear.
>
> B. D.
>
> P.S. And I was going to be in Seattle Feb. 16 because I would love to hear
> him and see his presentation.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Mark
> Davison
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 11:18 AM
> To: Leica User Group
> Subject: [Leica] Salgado to speak in Seattle Feb 16
>
>
> The great economist and concerned Leica photographer Sebastio Salgado will
> speak Sat Feb 16 at Town Hall. He will be delivering a slide show on
> Migrations and The Children.
>
> Details at http://www.townhallseattle.org/coming.cfm
>
>
> Mark Davison
>
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