Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am a great admirer of HCB... I think his best work is from Paris, during many years. It seems to me that he -like so many of us- often went out with his camera to cover events or just simple everyday things. An example of this are his pics from the 1968 students riots in Paris, great pics in his style, also his way of commenting what was happening. They are photojournalistic pics, not news pics, all with his special touch. I also like his portraits, there is a book with portraits only, you will get lots of inspiration for making avialiable light portraits with a 50mm lens. A portrait in a persons home environment adds charachter and is more interesting than a conventional tele shot, IMHO. The only not-so-good HCB pics I know of, are the ones he took during a weeks visit to Sweden (my own country). They are mostly clich? and a cheap comment on the "Swedish sin". He took these pics for a Swedish newspaper, I guess he was in a hurry. Sometimes I think I may be able to see the world just like him. I need to be very concentrated on looking for pics, with my camera ready. Now and then things come together for a pic in his style: Here are some samples from Paris with a LTM Leica III and pre-WW2 Elmar 50: http://www.hanspahlen.fotosidan.se/viewpic.htm?ID=198254 http://www.hanspahlen.fotosidan.se/viewpic.htm?ID=196044 Many who looks at this pic says that it is surrealistic HCB style: http://www.hanspahlen.fotosidan.se/viewpic.htm?ID=196037 Why did I take the pic on the link below? Well, it is a typical sample of what I look for when I am concentrated on elements in a picture. I was observing the man walking in the river bottom, and waited for something more to happen. But maybe it is not very obvious... But you get my point ;) http://www.hanspahlen.fotosidan.se/viewpic.htm?ID=197657 Nah, I don't think it is a good pic! Best, Hans