Henri Cartier-Bresson

modafoto · Sep 2, 2004

Hi

With the risk of getting lynched I say this:

I don't see what is special about Bresson.

Could someone introduce me to why so many thinks he is great. Just give me your opinion. I may discover something.

Greetings Morten

Francesco · Sep 2, 2004

I like his work, but it is really a matter of taste I think. Some like Helmut Newton, I do not (I like Avedon though). I do not think there is anything wrong in your view of HCB's work. Nevertheless, one thing that cannot be disputed, like him or not, is his importance and contribution to photography and photographers (same can be said about AA, EW, etc.). One cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Joe Symchyshyn · Sep 2, 2004

I saw a retrospective show of his in Paris last summer, and knowing the basics of his work... The decisive moment, blah, blah, blah... I must say that his work was very well seen. It impressed me a great deal.

I think part of his draw is that he was one of the first "rock stars" of photography... A big name in a field that didn't have that many big names yet... This is just my opinion, but one factor I believe...

Rather than show people what they never saw, he had an ability to show people what they saw everyday, but in a new way. Many images had a sense of joy in them that made you feel good to look at them... (I'm thinking of the picnic on the river bank and the little boy with the bottles of wine... to name a few)

Just an opinion,

joe

TPPhotog · Sep 2, 2004

I agree it's very much a "matter of taste" and how his work makes you feel inside or not as the case may be.

Many of the greats would probably score low on a critique site if they were to post as unknowns.

Might be time to put me tin hat on again

Tony

clogz · Sep 2, 2004

If you want any attention for the photos you post here make sure to use the following subjects: babies, puppies and wood. That's what people are most interested in. So be it; nothing wrong with that.
Perhaps Cartier Bresson was too much of a street photographer to be appreciated by some. Also he was a master at weaving geometric patterns into his pictures, giving many of his street shots an extra touch of beauty. Quite an accomplishment when you realise he took his pictures in a "decisive moment" in times when good lightmeters and autofocus could only be dreamed of.

Hans

c6h6o3 · Sep 2, 2004

modafoto said:
I don't see what is special about Bresson.

He was a master at composition.

I must admit, however, that I like the work of Raghubir Singh, who regarded Cartier-Bresson as his aesthetic mentor, a lot more.

Jorge · Sep 2, 2004

modafoto said:
Hi

With the risk of getting lynched I say this:

I don't see what is special about Bresson.

Could someone introduce me to why so many thinks he is great. Just give me your opinion. I may discover something.

Greetings Morten

The decisive moment. Dont look at HCB's prints as works of art, but as microsecond slices of life that have been captured flawlessly. Like in many fields of photography, many times we see work from other people and we say to our self, "hell I can do that if I had.....(fill in the blank)" Only to later try it and fail miserably. WHat he did, like many masters, looks easy, but it is certainly not. His genious was not photography, it was capturing the emotions of everyday people without needing an explanation.......

TPPhotog · Sep 2, 2004

Morton,
Check out lots of his work at Magnum and see if you still feel the same. Sorry folks this is the second thread I've posted this link on today. You need to register but it is free.
It took me a little while to appreciate his work but now I love it
Tony

ann · Sep 2, 2004

this is an example of understanding the history of photography and why certain names , and styles have a special place. For instance; i am not a big fan of Edward Weston; however, his place in our history is critically important. ( love his still life work;find the rest boring) that does not mean i "don't get it", the reality is that there are just personal individual taste that are based on who , what and heaven only knows what else influence what appeals to our hearts.

Ed Sukach · Sep 2, 2004

modafoto said:
Hi

With the risk of getting lynched I say this:

I don't see what is special about Bresson.

Could someone introduce me to why so many thinks he is great. Just give me your opinion. I may discover something.

Greetings Morten

There is NO way that I will be a part of the "lynching".

Aesthetics.

I'm writing that for two reasons: I believe it is the truth, and; from another point of view, it is a very efficient way to avoid giving a finite, logical answer. If I could do that, it would no longer fit the description of an "Aesthetic".

I love undefinable, unanswerable, "mysteries'. How could art exist without them?

modafoto · Sep 3, 2004

Thanks for the good answers.

I agree it is a matter of taste. But when I meet something that is appreciated by so many and I don't really get it, I get curious and want to find something I may have overlooked...

I take a look at the Magnum site now!

Morten

clogz · Sep 3, 2004

Morten, you see, you didn't get lynched. Nobody would dare touch a Rodinal user!

Hans

Andy K · Sep 3, 2004

TPPhotog said:
Morton,
Check out lots of his work at Magnum and see if you still feel the same. Sorry folks this is the second thread I've posted this link on today. You need to register but it is free.
It took me a little while to appreciate his work but now I love it
Tony

Thanks for the link, I love Bresson's work, but it insists I enter my home address etc. for 'mailing' purposes... that ain't gonna happen!

modafoto · Sep 3, 2004

clogz said:
Morten, you see, you didn't get lynched. Nobody would dare touch a Rodinal user!

Hans

Thanks! I see some qualities in HCB now. I just have to look at the composition to see the first quality. Thank you all for pointing the quilities out in a sober and constructive manner. Nice to be among decent people (something that APUG is known for!)

Morten (The Rodinal Mafia)

Snapper · Sep 3, 2004

Where's the nearest rope!?

TPPhotog · Sep 3, 2004

Andy, Put anything you like in the boxes, as long as there's something entered it will let you register

Andy K · Sep 3, 2004

Thanks TP... I must have had a brain fart or something to not think of that... d'oh! or maybe I'm just too honest!

Now I'm off for a few hours browsing Henri's work...

doughowk · Sep 3, 2004

A Humanist in a positive sense, The Minds Eye by HCB is an enjoyable entry into his thoughts on photography and life.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

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