A new Cartier Bresson?

[mfogiel]

I have just bought a couple of prints from this french photographer:

http://www.smague.fr/

I have been watching his photos on Flickr since a couple of years, and his proggress is impressive. He is a musician by extraction, and you will find an instinctive sense of harmony in his shots, just like in those of HCB. However, he has developed his own style, which centers on showing a human being in his proper surrounding, engaged in an expression typical of his everyday life.

These are the photos I chose now:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuel_smague/3606017645/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuel_smague/2103100096/sizes/o/in/set-72157594412763400/

and BTW he seems to be using just one camera (M7) and one lens (35mm, probably a Summilux), so this is a vivid testimonial on how much can be achieved with how little.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Excellent work.

 

[naruto]

he is one of my fav photographers on flickr too. I really like his series in Kurdistan and Egypt. But, all his images are rather great. A sense of attachment to his subjects is evident.

 

[robklurfield]

mfogiel, His work is terrific. Thanks for sharing the link. It's not about the equipment (or relative paucity thereof), but about seeing. Anyway, maybe he's the next Emmanual Smague? I think you described his work perfectly.

 

[kshapero]

great stuff.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Yeah, he's good!

 

[HMFriedman]

Thanks for the introduction to this fine photographer.

 

[takeda72]

Great work.

Thanks for the link.

 

[johne]

Thanks for introducing this artist. BTW, might want to check the work of Peter Eavis on Flickr. He has a great "eye" for street photography IMHO.
Johne

Peter is an award winning reporter in the real world.

 

[chambrenoire]

Great pics, thanks for the tip/link.
His Flickr presentation says:

I'm using now Leica MP with summicron 1:2/35mm ASPH

 

[Aziz]

Peters photography is quite nice. He's been one of my contacts that I always keep an eye on.
And Emmanuel Smague, forget about it. He is simply amazing.
There's a photog. from Greece that I've probably mentioned before: Peros Komo http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkomo/ that has some really strong work. His ability to use contrast and shadows effectively is amazing.

 

[MPerson]

There is an interview with Emmanuel Smague on:

Urbansand

 

[Ming The Merciless]

Both Eavis and Smague are top notch. Some of Smague's work is so lyrical.

 

[user237428934]

I have just bought a couple of prints from this french photographer:

http://www.smague.fr/

I have been watching his photos on Flickr since a couple of years, and his proggress is impressive. He is a musician by extraction, and you will find an instinctive sense of harmony in his shots, just like in those of HCB. However, he has developed his own style, which centers on showing a human being in his proper surrounding, engaged in an expression typical of his everyday life.

These are the photos I chose now:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuel_smague/3606017645/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuel_smague/2103100096/sizes/o/in/set-72157594412763400/

and BTW he seems to be using just one camera (M7) and one lens (35mm, probably a Summilux), so this is a vivid testimonial on how much can be achieved with how little.

He has an interesting portfolio on flickr. But I especially don't like the photo your first flickr-link directs to. Two freaks making funny faces. So what? Is it special because of the freaks or just because he dared to go to chernobyl? To me it's just an awful snap.

 

[Vin Yette]

Wonderful and inspiring!

 

[dazedgonebye]

Thanks for the pointer. I'll certainly be following him.

 

[Florian1234]

Really great, strong and humanistic work in the best traditions! It also shows the abilities of one body-one lens shooting.

 

[mfogiel]

I think his work is very powerful and also not so common today for its sense of composition. He also seems to be able to communicate with people well, so they let themselves be photographed in a natural, even joful way. This is why this photography is humanistically optimistic to my eyes, it is not so much about showing the exotic or shocking with images of poor or derelict people, but rather showing how much joy and dignity there can be in places where you would normally not expect it. I find that this is where it is related to the work of HCB: reporting reality - yes, but with an eye to the beauty of the image and always respectful of the human being.

The photo of the two Chernobyl villagers, is reminiscent of the characters that can be found in remote Eastern European rural areas, and is quite expressive to me. The distorted face of the woman can suggest she was entertained by being photographed, but also could mean she was half witted . It reminds me strongly the drawings of a certain Polish caricaturist Andrzej Mleczko, who has been depicting the "peasants" in a not very flattering manner. This shot has it all, but it is a real life document.

 

[Spider67]

Thanks for the pointer!
@ tom.w.bn I would hardly call an old man having a cigarette a freak.´

@mfogiel: I hafd a similar encounter when an old lady in a village who saw me taking a snap of her started waving. It was in Bulgaria (eastern and remote) and showed me that people who were often ridiculed as hillbillys had their own very charming ways.

 

[WDPictures]

Nice work indeed. Great images of familiar subjects in his own distinctive style. It is great to see a photographer being creative without trying too hard to get a winning shot. He makes it look easy which is hard. Glad you shared this...