Discuss a Bill Brandt photograph

Bob F. · Aug 19, 2006

I have the Paul Delany biography: "Bill Brandt A Life". Very comprehensive I think, both in respect of Brandt's personal history and the background to many of his photographs. The 100 duotones are of good quality.

I have too many favourites to mention...

Cheers, Bob.

jtk · Dec 6, 2017

catem said:
I thought it was about time we had a few more photographers from the other side of the Pond Not implying that either side of said Pond are the only places to draw photographers from...so lets have some different nationalities, the more the better...

I've chosen Bill Brandt as someone I admire, for many reasons - his versatility, for one, he was able to move easily from portraiture to documentary to landscape to innovative work. The way printing was integral to his art, another.

It's very hard to pick one, so I've chosen two (& it would be good to bring others in through the thread), The first is one I've always liked a lot - it's his portrait of Francis Bacon, taken in 1963.
www.masters-of-photography.com/B/brandt/brandt_francis_bacon_full.html

The second is Miners Returning to Daylight, South Wales 1931-35
www.masters-of-photography.com/B/brandt/brandt_miners_returning_full.html

Cate

I've recently seen a large traveling exhibition of Brandt's work. Two things seem worth mentioning: 1) many of his prints were significantly retouched (an art in itself) and 2) Much of what's seen online, and half of the reproductions in books, are terrible reflections on his work. I love virtually all of Brandt's work and have since I first saw his beach nudes.

David Allen · Dec 7, 2017

Lachlan Young said:
Apart from the two great images above check out Dead Link Removed - a slightly disturbing and strange picture of Peter Sellers who appears to be clutching a bottle of champagne - in Bill Brandt's world nothing is quite as it seems...

Lachlan

A strange little anecdote to that portrait was that it was used to advertise a major retrospective of Brandt's work at the National Portrait Gallery in London. This was at the same time as Britain was engaged in a war with Argentina over the Falklands/Islas Malvinas. If you look at the newspaper he is reading there is an article about 'Shipwrecked by Proxy in the Falklands'.

Strange coincidence and truly fitting the man.

Also, if you look on Youtube you can find a great interview with him from the BBC Master Photographers (1983) series. Having photographed the man myself (standing in for the National Portrait Gallery's photographer who was ill) I can state that how he comes across in the BBC film is exactly how he was when I met him.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

tezzasmall · Dec 7, 2017

David Allen said:
Also, if you look on Youtube you can find a great interview with him from the BBC Master Photographers (1983) series.

And here is the link that I have set up to watch :

Terry S

jtk · Dec 9, 2017

Thanks for that Youtube link !

tezzasmall said:
And here is the link that I have set up to watch :

Terry S

Discuss a Bill Brandt photograph

Bob F.

jtk

David Allen

tezzasmall

jtk

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