[Leica] HCB - And a proposal....

[bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)]

Dan, you are MUCH too kind, at least when you're writing about me; Kyle
may be another matter if he ever leaves the Day Job for full-time
art/fashion photography.

But HCB truly was a once-in-several generations phenomenon. I don't use
the word 'genius' lightly, but I have no hesitation in calling him a
genius. He was, as I've written here before, not a photographer per se,
but an artist, in the purest sense of that term, whose creative tool was
a camera. (Okay, okay, a LEICA.) As he said, he 'drew' with his camera.
And as some of the obits are correctly noting, he wasn't a
'photojournalist,' he was a surrealist, who saw the world in shapes and
geometric forms, who valued composition over content - in the way we
tend to think of content. For HCB, it was about the image, not the
subject.

Yes, I think some of his work is over-rated, venerated simply because it
was his. But when all is said and done, there has never been another
like him. (I don't think Eisenstadt was fit to carry Henri's bag,
despite the influence he's had!:-) )

Henri Cartier-Bresson was not just a 35 mm photographer; he was an
artist who defined 35 mm photography.

B. D.

And now let's shut off the LUGlights and come back in a week.

Hey, gang! I have an even better idea than that! Let's have an HCB
contest:
Brian, is there some way to set up a folder on the gallery to which all
of us could have posting, but not deleting access? Suppose each person
submitted their single most HCB-like image, and we then have a group of
judges select the 3-5-12 most HCB-like? Make it a tribute/contest?



-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Dan Post
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 9:48 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] HCB


Liam-
Personally, I toasted his memory with a wee dram of single malt, but the
sentiment is universal, I am sure. We also have neglected to mention
that we have on our own list some pretty impressive photographers (Ted,
sit down! I haven't called you yet!). While we lament the passing of a
master, let us not forget that the masters of tomorrow may be lurking
here, quietly gathering experience and vision. Perhaps someday the names
of Colen or Kassidy might be as well known, or at least as famous as
Karsh (Kassidy, the Goth Karsh.... sounds good!) I am sure that one or
two of you out there have the talent and vision, but for the lack of
that stroke of luck, you are just not as well known....yet! Best of
light to all of you, you deserve it! Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Liam Maloney" <kine_scope@yahoo.com>
To: <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 10:25 PM
Subject: [Leica] HCB


> Anyone else care to join me for a virtual toast in
> honour of HCB's memory? I have a fresh bottle of port
> from Bolivia...
>
> Salud!
>
> His photographs were the first to get me started down
> the long road that is a life as a photographer.
> Thanks Henri,
>
> Liam
>
>
>
>
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