Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The last thing I claim to be is an expert - or even that well educated - in the ins and outs of artistic movements....but I do see 'strange' in a fair amount of HCB's work, and incongruity of shape and form if no other.... Calling Sir Buzz!!! -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Jim Hemenway Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 1:32 PM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] WAS: Intro NOW: HCB. Calling Sir "Buzz of Belmont"! :-) > shape, form, shadow, odd juxtaposition of objects..... But BD, did you see _incongruous_ juxtaposition when you saw those large prints? And... there isn't any "weird" in HCB's work... at least none that I can remember. I've always thought that any surreal art needs to be a little bit weird. I don't mean the now common usage of the word surreal to mean almost anything unexpected and/or different. Jim B. D. Colen wrote: > BUZZ!!!! Get your butt in here!!! :-) > > In fact, HCB himself has been quoted as saying that around the time of > the founding of Magnum, the late Robert Capa "...was very wise. He > told me not to call myself a surrealist, but instead, a > photojournalist." > > I admit that I had some trouble getting my brain around this idea, > focused as I was on HCB's subject manner. But then I saw some classic > HCB images blown up to slide screen size - and BINGO! There is was - > shape, form, shadow, odd juxtaposition of objects..... > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf > Of Jim Hemenway > Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 10:49 AM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] WAS: Intro NOW: HCB. > > > I don't think of him a surrealist with a camera BD... a painter with a > camera perhaps, or maybe a sociologist with a camera? :-) > > Parke-Harrison are surrealists with a camera: > http://www.bonnibenrubi.com/Parkeharrison/parkeharrison.html > http://www.parkeharrison.com/ > http://www.decordova.org/decordova/exhibit/parkeharrison/parkeharrison > 04 > .html > > Jim > > > B. D. Colen wrote: > > >>True enough. The other thing to keep in mind when thinking about HCB >>is that while we may be looking to capture something about the human >>condition, he was looking to capture something having to do with form, > > >>shape and light. Not to start the surrealist thread again, but >>Gdamnit, he was not a PJ - although he did some PJ - he was a >>surrealist with a camera. >> >>B. D. >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org >>[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf >>Of Ted Grant >>Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 12:32 AM >>To: Leica Users Group >>Subject: [Leica] WAS: Intro NOW: HCB. >> >> >>B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net> >>To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org> >>Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 2:13 PM >>Subject: RE: Re: [Leica] Intro >> >> >> >> >>>I'd argue that the "decisive moment" was that instant in which he >>>saw, >> >> >>>or anyone sees, the possibilities in a particular setting or >>>situation. He didn't see a guy in mid-jump across a puddle and shoot >>>- >> >> >>>he saw a puddle and the possibilities it presented; he didn't see >>>someone on a given staircase - he saw the staircase, and waited for >>>the right person in the right position. Others of just might have >>>shot >> >> >>>a puddle, or a staircase. ;-)<< >> >> >>And because he was a consummate artist he would see elements in a >>street >> >>scene and know one element was missing just by looking. However, the >>gift he had was to see and then wait for the one element that created >>the "Decisive >>moment." >> >>The rest of us see things and capture good photo moments, but he had >>this ability to see something good and yet know it required one tiny >>extra thing >>or wait the moment longer to make it the perfect picture if you like. >> >> >> >>>>he didn't see someone on a >>> >>>given staircase - he saw the staircase, and waited for the right >>>person in the right position. ;-)<< >> >> >>Absolutely! As that's one of the gifts he had, was to wait for the >>icing on the cake to make it perfect. But most of all he had the >>patience to wait. >>The rest of us are always in a hurry to go some place, either to work, >>going >>to the Mall or wherever and our pictures quite often are a grabbed >>moment >>instead of seeing the complete moment by waiting a few minutes or > > longer > >>for >>the filling in the cake to make it great! >> >>ted >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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 > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. 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