Appreciation of Weegee

[cliveh]

I believe this guy has killed a cop and they have beaten him up and his hand is wet with ink for finger printing.

 

[Kirks518]

Weegee was about as cool as they come.

 

[mooseontheloose]

One of my favourites...

 

[MattKing]

Weegee and Stanley Kubrick were apparently friends, and in 1963 Weegee was on set and shot stills for Dr. Strangelove. In 2013 I saw a show of Weegee's photos taken on set along with some interesting other Kubrick and movie related items.

Here is a link to a story about the show at North Vancouver's Presentation House Gallery: http://www.nsnews.com/entertainment...graphs-on-view-at-presentation-house-1.391440

I think of the combination of Weegee and Kubrick as magical.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I enjoy his photography and I have some of his books. He was one of a kind. They broke the mold after they made him.

 

[HiHoSilver]

Finally got to look up images. 'Never heard of him before. 'Certainly different.

Once again, Clive - thank You.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Weegee: I Cried When I Took This Picture
1939

http://collection.whitney.org/object/10438

 

[guangong]

Wee gee was one of a kind. My good friend Louie Stettner made a recorded interview of Weegee that it on his lp "Famous photographers tell how". The contrast between Weegee's New York accent (the kind no longer heard) and CBresson's very proper upper class Oxford draw can not be imagined. By the way, in preparing His book on Weegee Louie told me Weegee had no sense of composition but a tremendous ability to capture the moment. With a 45 press camera the editors could do the composing. Weegee's decline was precipitated when he began to play the role of "artiste". If you can find the lp record buy it.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

"Weegee Tells How" can be found on YouTube.

 

[Moopheus]

Louie told me Weegee had no sense of composition

I think that rather overstates the case. From some of Weegee's own comments it is clear that he gave thought to the composition and arrangement of his photos. It is true that he didn't have much in the way of formal education, but he wasn't ignorant of the work of other photographers or artists. Heck he wasn't even above the occasional rearranging of a scene--even a crime scene--if it would make a better picture. Keep in mind that the Weegee persona was almost as much of a creation as his photos--appearing to be just a bum with a cigar and a Speed Graphic was part of his schtick.

However, it is true that most people think his later work is less interesting. His best work reflected the world he grew up in and was deeply a part of--the tenements and working class nieghborhoods, the after hours clubs, and so on. When he moved to California and began doing more abstract work, there was not the same level of emotional connection with his subjects. He could make a pastiche of a celebrity, but he couldn't make you care about them in the same way.

 

[AgX]

"Weegee Tells How" can be found on YouTube.

But also his movie "The Imp-probable Mr. Wee Gee"...

His fans better not watch it.

 

[hoffy]

Has anyone seen the episode of "I Am Rebel" featuring Weegee.

While its a typical National Geographic over dramatised gumph, it did at least touch on the later moments of Weegee's life as a photographer, with his time in LA and later caricature photography, which I had never heard of or seen before. I did find that rather interesting, to see that he sought fame and fortune in other ways later in life.

 

[guangong]

Just to clarify a point, Louie didn't say that Weegee wasn't concerned or interested in composition, but that he was unsure and didn't understand how to go about it. Lou was a good friend of Weegee and his widow and rescued his negatives from improper storage in a damp basement. These comments are not captious but simply describe the way people are. Weegee had a great talent for nailing the moment. Composition only makes picture content stronger. This is quite a different kind of picture than one that is built solely on composition but with little memorable content (think Hassy brochures).
Unfortunately, I must note that Lou's widow informed me that he passed away. I will miss his optimism and joy for life.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

In the summer of 2000, I was walking around Edinburgh, and came across a sign outside the door of a gallery which read, Weegee exhibit. Having never heard of him, I went inside. Wow, what a photographer! What a character!