[Leica] The Best HCB Book Depends Upon What You Seek

[buzz.hausner at verizon.net (Buzz Hausner)]

The book Phil mentions is a truly wonderful encapsulation of the great
man's career.  I especially enjoyed the biographical essay at the rear
which is accompanied by many pictures of H.C.-B. from childhood into old
age.

One warning about this volume, though, it is more encyclopoedic  than
other H.C.-B. books and is meant to present a broad swath of his work.
As such, most of the photographs are printed small...printed well, but
small...with a few images per page.  It is not the best book for
spending hours studying the photographs.  It is the best book to spend
the rest of your days studying his genius.

For my money, there are three essential collections widely available to
study H.C.-B.'s photographs in larger format and impeccable
reproduction.  They are (in English) "Henri Cartier-Bresson:
Photographer,"  "The World of Henri Cartier-Bresson" (regrettably out of
print, but easy to find used), and "Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Early
Work."

        Buzz Hausner

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf
Of Phil Swango
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 4:14 PM
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] Cheap HCB book

At the time of HCB's death I ordered a book I had been wanting for some 
time:  "Henri Cartier-Bresson: the man, the image and the world -- a 
retrospective."  (431pp., Thames and Hudson, 2003)

The online price was less than 70 USD ( at www.photoeye.com).

I have many other HCB books, but this one is by far the best I've seen.
It 
covers the full span of the work and has several essays by excellent 
commentators, as well as a number of photos of him throughout his 
life.  Particularly interesting are the works of his peak surrealist
years 
(1932-34) and the later works of journalism in post-WWII Europe and 
Asia.  Beautifully printed in Italy.  A real bargain, IMO.   Still 
inspiring after all these years.



Phil Swango