Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B. D. A few decades ago, it was Man Ray's photos that first caused me to go "Wow!" over photography. In the past year, now a photo newbie all over again, this time it was HCB's photos that lit up my imagination and inspired me to go snag a 50mm lens and see what I might do. HCB was indeed an artist. On vacation in Gaspe, Quebec last month, I ate up the evening hours reading a few photography books. Reading the HCB chapter in "Bystander" surprised me that HCB was quite self consciously an artist closely associated, at least for quite some time, with surrealism and some of its most famous practitioners. Some of the HCB quotes displayed some definite opinions he held on the aesthetic qualities of his own work. Photographer, small format innovator, artist, documentary journalist, soldier, businessman (Magnum), famed Leica shooter - take your pick. HCB's legacy is so very deep and will live long after him. Scott B. D. Colen wrote: > 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 >> >> >> >> >>__________________________________ >>Do you Yahoo!? >>New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! >>http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information