Modern Day HCB?

HCB Photographer was the first book that I bought for my photography library 16 years ago. Andre Kertesz was the second book. The more I researched the art (or craft as HCB called it), the more I discovered other phenomenal shooters.
 
Dear Mike,

He's better known by a pseudonym in many places. Have you ever seen the graffiti, BILL STICKERS IS INNOCENT?

Clearly a man who uses pseudonyms is not to be trusted...

Cheers,

R.
 
Keith said:
Although I don't think HCB was god I have to admit that the first time I ever saw his photographs (only a few years ago) I was stunned. No other photographer's work has ever made such an impression on me ... and it has nothing to do with 'street' photography being his chosen genre.

The man had compositional skills that were indefinable IMO.
Click to expand...

I'm mostly unimpressed by HCB, but I want to understand the "godlike" following he has. Perhaps I've seen the bicycle or puddle too many times and have missed his other works. Would you care to educate me?
 
Trooper said:
I'm mostly unimpressed by HCB, but I want to understand the "godlike" following he has. Perhaps I've seen the bicycle or puddle too many times and have missed his other works. Would you care to educate me?
Click to expand...

Not Keith replying, but get a few of HCB's books and you can see how good he was, viz., very. Then get books by other 1920s/1930s/1940s photographers such as Rodchenko, Brassai and Ronis, and you see that (a) he's part of a tradition and (b) not always the best in that tradition.

The others were inclined to be less pseudo-intellectually pretentious, too.

Cheers,

R.
 
Trooper said:
I'm mostly unimpressed by HCB, but I want to understand the "godlike" following he has. Perhaps I've seen the bicycle or puddle too many times and have missed his other works. Would you care to educate me?
Click to expand...


I can't define it Trooper. The puddle shot means no more to me than any of his other photos ... it doesn't really stand aside from the rest of his work IMO.

When I browse the small book of his photographs I was given as a gift a few years ago, I'm struck by the fact that there isn't a shot I don't really like! Some people never liked the Beatles ... I can't think of a song on any album they ever did that I don't like.

I have no need to convince myself that HCB was a great photographer to be able to admire his work ... I like what I see, it's as simple as that. If others don't I really couldn't care because we should enjoy what we enjoy and shouldn't have to be told it's great so we can!
 
I'm not that keen on his stuff, probably because I don't warm to him personally, but having said that I would never deny his position at the very forefront of the art during the Second War and the preceding decade
 
Keith said:
I have no need to convince myself that HCB was a great photographer to be able to admire his work ... I like what I see, it's as simple as that. If others don't I really couldn't care because we should enjoy what we enjoy and shouldn't have to be told it's great so we can!
Click to expand...

I agree completely
 
Keith said:
Some people never liked the Beatles ... I can't think of a song on any album they ever did that I don't like.
Click to expand...

That might be the best explanation, as I am ambivalent about the Beatles. I don't dislike their music, but the overwhelming following they have made me expect too much of their music. When I hear the Beatles, I think, "What is all the fuss?"

There seems to be such a worship of HCB, that when I saw his few most famous photographs I was disappointed. Not that they were bad, just not fitting of the hype. I never investigated his other works, because the famous works must be his best, right?

There seem to be a lot of places claiming to have the "World's best...[insert product]" and I'm always let down!
 
Trooper said:
That might be the best explanation, as I am ambivalent about the Beatles. I don't dislike their music, but the overwhelming following they have made me expect too much of their music. When I hear the Beatles, I think, "What is all the fuss?"

There seems to be such a worship of HCB, that when I saw his few most famous photographs I was disappointed. Not that they were bad, just not fitting of the hype. I never investigated his other works, because the famous works must be his best, right?

There seem to be a lot of places claiming to have the "World's best...[insert product]" and I'm always let down!
Click to expand...


I think I was lucky that when I was given a book of photos by HCB I was pretty much a non photographer and knew nothing about him.

I probably like Arbus better as a photographer even though I can go through her images and see one and think ... "Well, I don't really like that!"

HCB can be a little generic at times ... as were the Beatles! 😀
 
I am so sick of the constant association of the "decisive moment" with HCB! I recently saw a French documentary with HCB who said, and I quote, "le decisive moment, je ne sais pas ce que cela veut dire", which translated means "I don't know what that means"!
 
The original post poses a question that has no answer. Throughout history, there is always a desire to compare modern day people with those that preceded. It isn't really possible as times are different, meaning that everything is different.

I love the work by HCB but rarely do his style of photography. I just like what I see. Is there anyone as good or better? Why ask the question? He was who he was and has received his just recognition. Sure, others try to emulate him but no one can duplicate his work. I can't even duplicate my own work except possibly in the studio with inanimate objects.🙂 Believe me, I have tried.

So, maybe a better question would be, what can we learn or simply appreciate from the work of HCB? I hope to find that answer when I put my own little Aperture book about HCB aside and attend the HCB exhibit in Atlanta on April 16th!!!!😀
 
gdmcclintock said:
I am so sick of the constant association of the "decisive moment" with HCB! I recently saw a French documentary with HCB who said, and I quote, "le decisive moment, je ne sais pas ce que cela veut dire", which translated means "I don't know what that means"!
Click to expand...

Awhile back, someone had posted this audio track from an interview with, presumably, Hank Bresson. And he clearly states -
..."pick that moment, the decisive moment"...
http://tedbarron.com/BWF-June-2009/23-Henri-Cartier-Bresson.mp3

Did Hank forget how to speak English? 😱

FWIW, strictly speaking from a photographic standpoint, I think the guy was a unique talent. I admire his eye in so many of his compositions.
 
I don't buy it. HCB speaking French for a French documentary I will believe before an audio tape of le grand homme speaking the language of his marketeers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom