If Henri Cartier-Bresson was alive today would he shoot film or digital?

[NickTrop]

Simple question. If HBC was in his prime today taking pictures would he still be shooting black and white film in a Leica? - Or would he be shooting with a modern digital camera? Did HBC only choose Leica because that was the best option available to him back then but would use more modern tools today? If you select "digital" - what kind of camera among the dizzying myriad of cameras available would he use? Pure speculation - for fun. (You can't "prove" any of it...) If you chose "digital" are you acknowledging their superiority for this type of photography?

 

[back alley]

warning...this thread has a short leash...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

He'd use a phone

 

[celluloidprop]

Digital - he wasn't a darkroom artisan and he was unquestionably willing to compromise 'quality' (sheerly by using 35mm in that era rather than 120 or LF), if it can be argued that digital compromises quality today.

Some kind of small mirrorless - young HCB (what I think of as his prime) transported to today couldn't afford a M9.

 

[johannielscom]

Seeing that the Leica was a novelty back in the days HCB used it, he would use digital.

If he had been in it for nostalgia, he would have shot daguerrotypies.


Case closed.

 

[NickTrop]

I'll answer. I chose "film" by accident (doh!) in the poll. But I think he would shoot digital - a small DSLR, maybe the X100... He might even use a zoom lens!!! or shoot with a compact zoom! I think that the only reason he shot Leica and black and white film is that's what was available at the time. If he was around today, he'd almost certainly shoot with the tools available. He's be decent with Photoshop and have his prints made with an on-line service.

 

[celluloidprop]

I don't think he would have used a zoom. Compact fixed-lens (GRD series), quite possibly. But his working process seemed very much about getting involved in the scene, which tends to obviate the need for zooms.

 

[NickTrop]

Digital - he wasn't a darkroom artisan and he was unquestionably willing to compromise 'quality' (sheerly by using 35mm in that era rather than 120 or LF), if it can be argued that digital compromises quality today.

Some kind of small mirrorless - young HCB (what I think of as his prime) transported to today couldn't afford a M9.

Yes. And he might even have used a cell phone as previously suggested!

 

[EdwardKaraa]

I'm sure he could have afforded an M9 as he came from a wealthy family. However, I think he would use a Nex 7 with smile detection 😉

 

[haempe]

Easy : digital.
He was a progressive guy.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Nick,

If Henri Cartier-Bresson was alive today would he shoot film or digital?

Probably. But he might also decide not to bother with either, and stick with painting or drawing.

All counterfactual conditionals are true.

Cheers,

R.

 

[gavinlg]

I'm going to say digital - he loved heavy handed contrast manipulation which is so easy with digital.

 

[---f]

A well known Vancouver artist, http://fredherzog.com/, is seen shooting slide film thru his career with a very inexpensive film Canon point and shoot. Rumor has it he's switched to a micro 4/3's digital camera. He's now 80 yrs young.

 

[f16sunshine]

Likely He would be lost on flickr never to be discovered like all the other millions of "street" shooter with an eos Rebel and an uplink at home. I'm not being negative. Like many things Photography had it's critical tipping point. HBC just happened to be working at the moment of a tipping point. A "decisive moment".

 

[Richard G]

X100. And brilliant point Andy.

 

[paulfish4570]

digital, perhaps an x100, or a x-type cam with a 50mm equivalent lens.

 

[---f]

Likely He would be lost on flickr never to be discovered like all the other millions of "street" shooter with an eos Rebel and an uplink at home. I'm not being negative. Like many things Photography had it's critical tipping point. HBC just happened to be working at the moment of a tipping point. A "decisive moment".

I really do agree with you - to a point. However, there are exceptions. I think one of the big problems is many people on Flickr remain undiscovered because they don't print. Doesn't matter if it's silver or ink, but it needs to get printed, displayed and admired.

 

[Nikonsnapper]

As was previously suggested, he was progressive in that he used 35mm when the norm was larger format camera's. I understand he wanted the most simplistic medium for his photography and would have preferred to take his pictures by just blinking. I suggest the closest to ideal for him would be a digital with the same angle of view as the eye. He would probably also use colour to reproduce the eyes view. Alternatively he would use an X100.

 

[bensyverson]

He'd definitely post iPhone shots to a Tumblr. Or maybe just to Instagram.

Everyone is HCB now.

 

[celluloidprop]

I don't think he'd be consigned to the forgotten realms of social networking at all. HCB was ambitious.

If you want your work to be known, you've got to print and show, somehow. Whether that's hustling for venues (putting up your work in coffee shops, creating a group just to build group shows), or sending out portfolios or whatever you can do. People who get stuck just posting to HCSP on flickr or updating their tumblr do so because they're hobbyists - either they aren't trying to get work out there for public consumption, or their work just can't cut it.
(not a knock on hobbyists - I haven't been part of a show for many many years)