Cartier-Bresson - Surrealism and communism!

[Rodchenko]

It's a well known fact that all frenchmen dunk their croissant in coffee with too much milk in it for breakfast

Now, you see, things were different back then, and he was never a card-carrying Dunker...

 

[Sparrow]

Now, you see, things were different back then, and he was never a card-carrying Dunker...

... well explain why that black-leica hasn't got any crumbs on it then?

 

[Rodchenko]

OK, so he dabbled in Dunking. But it was just the fashion back then, and, anyway, he had a wealthy family who funded his croissants.

 

[paulfish4570]

HCB certainly could afford to be a surrealist communist ...

 

[DNG]

Well.......

This has been an enlightening and spirited discussion

This is why I like RFF discussion boards, because they are have civil and interesting dialogs.

I am a cookie drunker...

 

[Rodchenko]

I'm a committed dunker, but only biscuits. Croissants goes beyond the pale, and is a foreign habit, not suitable for the British.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'm a committed dunker, but only biscuits. Croissants goes beyond the pale, and is a dirty, foreign habit, not suitable for the British.

Well, the French don't understand scones, so what can you expect?

 

[DNG]

On waiting for the human element to walk/ride in the frame

I am not sure he always changed film that often as the Essay from the art student depicted. I
suspect, that in areas for the 1st time, he explored w/o any fixed location to wait in, and therefore shoot more film...

Think about it.. you go in a new area, and are excited to hit the streets. (you shoot more film just because it is a new area), after a few days or so,
you have seen a few places you use as staple, and wait for the human element to enter the frame just as you envisioned it earlier.

_________________________________________________

On his political views

I am not really sure his political affiliation had much to do with his vision.

----- I am a Democrat by my political opinions. But, I have never thought about "how do I make this image reflect my political views?" -----

I doubt HCB was concerned with making a political viewpoints with his photography as a Street Photographer.
As a News Journalist.. maybe...if the assignment was such.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Sometime he waited and sometimes he stumbled on something but the key is he had the vision, developed instinct to see the moment and just enough technical ability to capture it.

 

[Rodchenko]

Well, the French don't understand scones, so what can you expect?

Oh, we're not going to open the pronunciation debate, now, are we? It's Scon, not Scown. And I've never met a French person who can pronounce either. Which must prove something, I suppose.

 

[Sparrow]

HCB certainly could afford to be a surrealist communist ...

... how come no one picks on the capitalist, and therefore by extension oppressor of the proletariat, Albert Kahn like this! ... and he had the temerity to photograph in colour to boot

PS ... we all know it's 'Skons' don't we

 

[RichC]

How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Argus 555p

by kyle cassidy


June 1944, somewhere in occupied France ...

Henri Cartier-Bresson lurched towards the car – he was drunk as a marine at Mardi Gras, but that was Hemingway’s fault.

"They busted up my Leica!" wailed Henri.

"Shut up and run!" shouted Hemingway, shoving him in the back, then turning once more to wave his fists at the pursuing crowd, "I could crush you all!" he boasted, before leaping onto the back seat on top of Henri as I roared away. I could hear banging sounds as they pelted us with rocks and garbage.

"My Leica!" cried Henri again.

"Oh shut up!" repeated Hemingway. They both stank of whiskey. Continued...

 

[David Hughes]

Oh, we're not going to open the pronunciation debate, now, are we? It's Scon, not Scown. And I've never met a French person who can pronounce either. Which must prove something, I suppose.

Hi,

A well-known poem that will baffle our friends across the pond:-

I sat alone
and ordered scone;
the girl has gone
and bought a scone.

Discus, use both side of the page if necessary.

Regards, David

PS I shall be very surprised if any one comes up with the put down from Punch of 1914 but I thought it classic. Alas, I take joking seriously.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Discus, use both side of the page if necessary.

How can you get the point if you're going to use a round flat object?

 

[David Hughes]

How can you get the point if you're going to use a round flat object?

Hi,

Well, if you aim carefully round flat objects can be thrown and hit the target. As the saying goes; throw enough buttered scones at a wall and some are bound to stick.

Regards, David

 

[xayraa33]

Well, the French don't understand scones, so what can you expect?

To understand scones first you have to be a serious tea drinker and not that green tea stuff but an English breakfast black tea or an orange pekoe tea drinker.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcPMDjkzeOo

 

[Sparrow]

To understand scones first you have to be a serious tea drinker and not that green tea stuff but an English breakfast black tea or an orange pekoe tea drinker.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcPMDjkzeOo

... thank goodness we haven't got sidetracked into that Cornish/Devonish jam and clotted cream tea thing eh?

 

[ChrisLivsey]

The book is long out of print, and even a tatty copy costs hundreds of pounds. I suggest borrowing it. Here in the UK, your local library will borrow a copy from the British Library for you - which is what I did. It's ginormous book - not thick, but 2 feet tall by a foot wide!

Your memory has enlarged it
Big yes, but 11 and 3/4 by 14 and 1/2, a good 10 inches less in height

If you want big try Lisette Model (Aperture 1979 2nd Edition 2007) 15 inch by 12 and 1/2, just beats HCB.

Agree it is the one to see.

 

[xayraa33]

... thank goodness we haven't got sidetracked into that Cornish/Devonish jam and clotted cream tea thing eh?

They are all good, so you cannot go wrong.

I am partial to Eccles cakes with tea but scones will do just fine.

 

[Ansel]

Sometime he waited and sometimes he stumbled on something but the key is he had the vision, developed instinct to see the moment and just enough technical ability to capture it.

Yes, I think that is a fair summary. It would be interesting to learn more about his later work, particularly before he quit. Why stop working when you have reached such a pinnacle of excellence?