Bruce Davidson: A Lifetime with Leica

[Murchu]

I think this clip by Leica at youtube stinks advertisement. Put a Leica cap on Mr. Davidson's head and show his Leicas as if they were the ticket to ride to become Bruce Davidson.

I know his photographs since the '70s. Mr. Davidson used a wide array of cameras besides Leica; 4X5, 8X10, SLRs, even 6x12 for his Central Park series. Imagine a young boy of 10 asking his mother to build him a darkroom! He is one of the very few Magnum members who had an academic build up to become a photographer and being at home with any format; very rare... He concentrated the majority of his professional carrier to photograph the States; as he's known more of his "documentary" side.

Let's note that those masters who made Leica what it was have used other cameras too. Actually their greatness have little to do with the use of Leicas, more to do with their talents and capabilities. Any camera used to sing in their hands... I find it a little sad to accentuate Leica as being the center element in such clips, most of the amateurs watching them tend to be "conditioned" to believe the greatest factor behind of making a Bruce Davidson was Leica.. Schmeica! I wish there could be 10 more clips showing his photography only without mentioning about the brands of his cameras.

Would agree. Its a persistent and dangerous untruth that a certain camera will make you a better photographer. That said, its a video by Leica for promotional purposes so what do you expect. Would not expect any camera company to act differently.

 

[Murchu]

There is another side of the coin.. (and a not so nice side..)

Many of such top photographers used to receive their Leicas for free.. (I wonder how many of them paid for them from their own pocket.) Some of them (W. Eugene Smith included) used to sell their used Leicas (or other cameras too) to students when they gave courses of photography, as they were always underpaid as being photojournalists and they were receiving some new cameras time to time as gifts. To believe that they could only be "doing" with Leica would be a sort of insult for them, what about the Nikon or Canon rangefinders then? The great majority of Life photographers were using Contax well into the '60s.

Decades later some of these old Leica "hands" are stilll supported by Leica in exchange of some small "promotional" favors.. For example, Elliot Erwitt; he turns on his flame thrower each time a digital camera is mentioned in his interviews however in the last appearance at Solms he was so glad to receive a nylon bag, inside an M9 with lens. (Actually I found he deserved it better than Seal's S2.)

Such photographers like Davidson are indeed the "columns" of the 20th century photographic temple and Leica is indebted to them a lot.. what was not so nice (IMHO) they "employed" him in a commercial as if to promote Leica. "Promote" him instead!

Definitely. Opportunity missed there for Leica, as the whole video is more harmful than beneficial for Leica I imagine. Still, I am glad it all inspired what is proving a very enjoyable discussion on Bruce Davidson

 

[Bob Michaels]

"Each day I would appear on the block with my 4x5 view camera and a bag containing film holders, accessories and a powerful strobe." From the AFTERWORD p. 162 of East 100th Street.

articularly interested in his work on East 100th Street because I currently live just a block away. I'm pretty certain he stated that he used a 8x10, but I could be in error. SNIP

Hi Cal-

After our exchange, I wasn't sure either. But it was a 4x5 .. from the "Bruce's Mouth"..

http://vimeo.com/1010075

 

[Vincent.G]

Leica or not, I don't really care. He shown us its talent that matters, not brand of camera. I love his work and he always used his best tool for the job.

His book, "Outside, Inside" is a must have. I am saving up for his " East 100th Street" book.

 

[Calzone]

articularly interested in his work on East 100th Street because I currently live just a block away. I'm pretty certain he stated that he used a 8x10, but I could be in error. SNIP

Hi Cal-

After our exchange, I wasn't sure either. But it was a 4x5 .. from the "Bruce's Mouth"..

http://vimeo.com/1010075

Thanks for the fact checking and our exchange.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Cal-

With the crop of digital cameras and users, and a lot of sheet film vanishing, I wonder how a "modern" photographer would duplicate the street corner - plate camera photographer. I've been in situations where after taking a few photos with a digital camera, the subjects all gathered around to see the LCD on the camera back. prints could still be delivered; but without a big camera, it wouldn't be the same.

pkr

Actually I draw a lot of interest with some of my retro film cameras in the same way, especially my Rolleiflex. Even today I was became engaged with a construction worker from the 2d Ave Subway project near East 99th Street over my Leica M6.

A Pentax 67II is an outright tourist attraction in NYC, especially when held by a tall skinny Asian with both a ponytail and arrogant chin beard. LOL.

Jeff from the New York Meet-Ups many times has compared me to Louis Mendez because of my retro look. Louis does Polaroid street portraits with a WeeGee rig and is a NYC fixture usually found near B&H, Adorama and Strand Bookstore on rainy days.

Not that I'm like Bruce Davidson, but I did learn a lot from him about respecting and engaging with people and communities.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I'm not suggesting a project here..

I wonder if a photographer set up once or twice a week - for several months - on a corner near a popular grocery spot, with a portrait background near by.. how many repeat customers (no$$) one would find. If word got around the neighborhood and some previous work was shown (prints handed out) one might have a flow of subjects. When out working I've had tourists ask me to photograph them, with their cameras, and always thought to take a few frames with mine - but haven't. I'll bet if prints were involved, there would be some interest. I think a tripod and some kind of flash would be necessary.

A pal of mine set up and outdoor studio for several days at a time in a local neighborhood (many years back). He had seamless paper and portable lights. Today the city would require a permit and an off duty cop present (lots of $$) to allow that kind of thing. It would be doable in some places.

Also.. These days the only people making prints are very serious photographers. Most photos taken with digital cameras don't even make it to a decent size monitor.

My friend Louis Mendez does Polaroids, put kids through college, and is now an old man. He makes $20.00 at a time doing street portraits. For effect he still uses flash bulbs for fill flash a la WeeGee.

Back in the late 50's he hung out with W. Eugene Smith during the Jazz Loft Era. Louis tells me back in 1967 he made enough money in a day that he went to a Ford dealership and bought a T-Bird with the cash.

He keeps on inviting me to go on a train ride to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. He tells me he makes a lot of money on the train ride down there. If it were agreeable with my girlfriend to abandone her for a week or so I'd go and get to further know a man who is an urban legend.

Last saw him at the Mermaid Parade earlier this summer.

Cal