HCB interview with Charlie Rose

I watched some of it, but had a difficult time understand what HCB was saying. The parts I did understand were good. He seems almost too humbling....

The part where he says something along the lines of "the things that you need to know cannot be taught" was an interesting perspective. I disagree with that, but interesting nonetheless.
 
After seeing it all, I find it hard to get an idea about the man. He sounds very evasive.
He looks symphatetic, humble, but basically evasive - something like 'take it or leave it but I cannot describe it in words'

Well, just my opinion.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
I have been further thinking about this interview. It seems to me that HCB used to repeat there two constants of his images, the "geometry" and pushing the shutter release at the right momnet, or the evasiveness of the right moment.

No doubt the HCB phenomena must be studied in a critic spirit, like all other masters deserve.

And BTW, at the very begining of the interview with Avedon, a picture is shown for less than a second showing a kind of "X" with small people around. Could anyone link me to that picture. It seems to be great and I never saw it.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Ruben, I agree with you. Those two points define the character of HCB work for me. I would also add that his content was quite unique: he delighted in the humanistic and the surreal.

The interesting thing about photography is that everyone has suspended disbelief. Unlike drawing or painting, they accept that the camera records facts. That's why it is such a wonderful tool to play with perceptions.
 
I've seen this video before. Quite interesting really. But as sitemistic says, it is obvious that he is somewhat detached from the photography that he does. He doesnt see it as anything glorious, etc so far as his outward attitude would show.
 
He was a very private man who did not give interviews often nor let his photograph be taken. He was quite famous, even in his own lifetime, but avoided the public life. i imagine because his way of working required that he not be obvious or stand-out. I think he loved photography and did it for a career and artistic pursuit all his life. He retired to do his painting and drawing. I think the term "drawing" refers to his early art training and his approach to photography. When Ruben talks about geometry above, he's referring to composition in the classical sense of how painters and artists are trained. HCB displays this very clearly.
 
Appearances to the contrary, I think he deeply cared both about photography and his legacy. What looks like indifference must be Gaullic nonchalance. Perhaps old age too.

If you watch footage of Bresson shooting, he is as focused and obsessed as any artist immersed in their work. In fact, he reminds me of Mermelstein (or is it the other way round 😉 ) on the street. Anyway, nobody shoots two rolls of film before breakfast, without some obsession about photography.

BTW, Charlie Rose did a series of interviews about photographers including Larry Fink, Richard Avedon, Gordon Parks. Google Charlie Rose + the name of the photographer and it will come up with a result for a youtube video.
 
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Hi Stuart (stuken):

Kindly forgive me for having forgot to thank you about having brought this video to our attention.

No need to say, that if you know of any other of the like related to photography, kindly post the link.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
telenous said:
.........BTW, Charlie Rose did a series of interviews about photographers including Larry Fink, Richard Avedon, Gordon Parks. Google Charlie Rose + the name of the photographer and it will come up with a result for a youtube video.
Click to expand...

My thanks too telenous !

Cheers,
Ruben
 
I watched this on television a while ago and remember that the interviewer's clumsiness and inability to get into a real conversation with the artist made me cringe.
 
sitemistic said:
I don't think HCB was impressed with photography or photographers or even his own work. When I listen to him talk or read his words, he talks about it more as just an extension of his drawing, a faster way to draw, perhaps, but not as anything unique or special to him. The fact that he eventually abandoned photography and went back to drawing seems to confirm that. He actually seems a bit amazed his photography has endured.

He certainly doesn't seem to be really interested in talking about photography at all.
Click to expand...


Hi sitemistic,

To tell you the truth, you sound me rather harsh or at a bad day, and if so I wish you my best. From your commentary it is possible to infere the somewhat absurd conclusion, that had HCB cared more about photography he could have given us even better images than he did...

But as his "babies", we all know that his high level couldn't be achieved by a careless mind.

When judging this interview, in my opinion we should take into account, HCB was pretty counscious he is the most venerated photographer around, and accordingly, in my opinion he tryies among other things to cool down us.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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akptc said:
I watched this on television a while ago and remember that the interviewer's clumsiness and inability to get into a real conversation with the artist made me cringe.
Click to expand...

Hi Andy,

There is something in my opinion on what you say. True, the interviewer Charlie Rose, may not be well trained in photography, but he showed to me very well trained as an interviewer.

It was rather HCB reluctance to take clear stands in the field of photography what makes this interview somewhat limited in its scope. But his reluctance to take clear positions doesn't mean at all HCB didn't have them.

If we accept HCB was also a man, we can accept it. He should have his reasons for doing so. Perhaps egoistic reasons, perhaps others.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
ruben said:
... It was rather HCB reluctance to take clear stands.......
Cheers,
Ruben
Click to expand...
That's sort of my point, a good interviewer would have been able to adjust to HCB's personality or mood that day and get him to reveal more of himself. I found Charlie in this case to be overbearing and frankly overwhelming in that interview. I also got a clear impression that HCB’s lack of responsiveness was in large part in reaction to the interviewer’s personality and his way of conducting the interview. A lost opportunity, IMHO.
 
akptc said:
T...a good interviewer would have been able to adjust to HCB's personality or mood that day and get him to reveal more of himself. I found Charlie in this case to be overbearing and frankly overwhelming in that interview. I also got a clear impression that HCB’s lack of responsiveness was in large part in reaction to the interviewer’s personality and his way of conducting the interview. A lost opportunity, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Exactly. That was a great chance. Imagine this: You have one frame left on your last roll of film. What do you do with it when you have a chance of that importance? Charlie missed it.
 
Wow! What a tedious interview!! Mssr. Bresson seems annoyed, preoccupied, cagey, and evasive. Rose seems to become annoyed too, so I agree...Rose could have done better.

But 50mm only, no cropping...what genius...I guess you really can't teach that!
 
Berliner said:
But 50mm only, no cropping...what genius...I guess you really can't teach that!
Click to expand...

Style is the skillful omission of the insignificant.

For example, omission of an arsenal of lenses, finders, cameras - and thoughts about all that.
 
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