Photographers who shot with a rangefinder and one lens

[Rob Skeoch]

Hi guys,

I'm teaching a college photography course for journalism students and have a simple question.
We've just finished looking at the work of Cartier-Bresson.
Do you know of any popular/famous rangefinder shooters who traveled the world and used one lens. You know the type of person who did it all but only shot with a 35mm. I realize some of the early cameras didn't change lenses but I'm looking more for a photographer who had the choice but choose to shoot with one lens.

Thanks.
-Rob

 

[Paul Howell]

I cant give the exact referance, but I am under the impression that Robert Cappa shot the vast majiority of his work with a 50mm. I was taught that his working motto was "If your work work is not good enough your are not close enoguh enoungh." Most of the miltary cambat PJ in WWII were issued cameras like the Kodak 35 with a fixed lens, or a 4X5 with a single lens.

 

[Inayat Noor]

I was told Christos Manos shot the project "Where's Boston" with a Leica M3 and a 35mm lens. What he used on other projects I could not answer.

 

[TimVermont]

Not RF, but much excellent work was done with fixed-lens 75 or 80mm Rolleiflex TLR's. Pierre Verger's pictures come to mind.

 

[mtbbrian]

I was told Christos Manos shot the project "Where's Boston" with a Leica M3 and a 35mm lens. What he used on other projects I could not answer.

I think you actually mean Costa Manos...


Brian

 

[Paul Howell]

Not RF, but much excellent work was done with fixed-lens 75 or 80mm Rolleiflex TLR's. Pierre Verger's pictures come to mind

Diane Arbus (spelling?) Margeret Brooks White and others who worked with Speeds and TLRs.

 

[Loose Gravel]

Try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Photo-Jour-Pi..._bbs_sr_3/103-3365700-3085467?ie=UTF8&s=books

David Hume Kennerly. It's not 35mm, but Mamiya 7 with a 43mm lens for a year. A fun book.

 

[Shelly Grimson]

Salomon, I believe shot most of his famous Versailles impromptus of polititians with an Ermanox with a very fast lens. He had a frame finder not an optical rangefinder if I'm correct. I saw one of those in a showcase in what I think was the old Olden Camera in New York about two years ago.

 

[Lee Shively]

Although he's not in the photojournalism genre, Ralph Gibson reports using a 50mm and Leica M for the majority of his work.

 

[John Koehrer]

Eggleston, Frank?

 

[CraigK]

Raymond Depardon

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Yes the work of Depardon is really nice.
You've got to love those Magnum guys.
I've looked at a lot of picture sites and have my work sold by Wireimage and GettyImages, but I really like the look of the Magnumphoto site.
It's so clean and easy to navigate.
When I contact a photo service to get permission to show the photographers work to my students, Magnum handles everything in the most professional way.
Some of the other sites don't even return the email.
-Rob Skeoch

 

[Vincent DiPietro]

Didn't H C-B use just a Leica w/a 50 f2 lens? Also, I believe Robert Hupka used a Leica w/ a 50 mm lens on his Toscanini series. Margaret Borke White Not Margaret Brooks White.

 

[Paul Howell]

[ Margaret Borke White Not Margaret Brooks White.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Vincent DiPietro]

It's Bourke-White . We both stand corrected.

 

[bjorke]

Winogrand also, IIRC, used the 28 on his Leica and Tri-X at ASA 1250

 

[Roger Hicks]

Didn't H C-B use just a Leica w/a 50 f2 lens?

No. A popular myth but I've seen at least one picture of him using a 90mm and of the few I've met who knew him at all well (I never met him) no-one subscribes to this view.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Muihlinn]

HCB said once that he mainly used the 50, but also the 35 and 90. Probably he quoted some others, but my memory is getting blurred.

 

[Nes]

Michelle Comte a rather excellent fashion and documentary photographer uses diffrent Leica M's but only one lens a 35mm summilux.

 

[rfshootist]

Hi guys,
We've just finished looking at the work of Cartier-Bresson.
Do you know of any popular/famous rangefinder shooters who traveled the world and used one lens.
-Rob

Who really knows ? But at least one thing is proven: HCB did not belong to the one-lens shooters.

Regards,
bertram

 

[Parsifal]

Lots of pros in the forties and fifties worked with very limited kits; the rollei guys simply had a rollei; the 4x5 guys had a 135 or 127 usually and could borrow a 90 from someone......

Don't forget that bag also had to carry flashbulbs.....

These days its a good finger exercise because it lets you focus very simply (I mean focus mentally, not focus the lens....)

WeeGee, Andre deDiens (spelling?) ey al

 

[bjorke]

It's silly to get too religious about this.

HCB used Contax, he used a 90mm.... BIG DEAL. He used what was comfortable and would get The Shot.

Likewise Depardon, who was well-known for his work with the 50 but he also used TLRs and 8x10 cameras as well

 

[copake_ham]

It's silly to get too religious about this.....

I agree. But I found that with RF'ers it's all about "religion" espescially when it comes to Leica v. Contax and, thus Leitz v. Zeiss.

With them we're talking "holy war" whereas with Nikon v. Canon - you know that at the end of the day they'd all go drink together at the Kareoke Bar!

 

[rfshootist]

we picked up a couple of real leicaphreaks after you left, copake. it's almost too much to bear! =(

Well, as the boss, so is his company. For those gaga-talkers RFF has always been an attractive place. They have the majority there, at least their noise can make you believe that. A bunch of good photogs have gone therefore, a pity.

bertram

 

[Donald Boyd]

I know some Leicaphiles. They love everything Leica but they are not among the best photogs I know. I don't really care. My main camera, a Bessa R, serves me well as a hobbyist.