What does this picture say to you...

It seems to me that a lot of people have a very generous notion of what a story consists of. "These two people are together" isn't really much of a story. The image might be used to illustrate a story but it doesn't tell one on its own.
 
sparrow6224 said:
I would be very surprised if that were HCB. It's a Magnum photo by him -- did he do self portraits?

Seems to me also a major misreading of the picture that he's just lusting after this woman; what is interesting, most interesting given the probable year -- late 1940s? -- is that she is dark/southern and he is light/northern. I strongly felt it was an American picture, somewhere west of the Mississippi, but his face could be French/Dutch/German so who knows. She would almost have to be Spanish, no? I also got the strong feeling of working class people who were in some sort of situation, the kind of situation (trouble) only the working poor get into, having to pay some fine that they can't afford or something similar. She looks oppressed in a way that he does not.

So does anyone know what it really is?
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Richard G said:
Is that not Henri himself with his wife.....? Only the heavy proprietorial arm makes me think otherwise. Not very aristocratic.
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peterm1 said:
The man in the photo actually looks like a young HCB. Was he a relative?
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That's Cartier-Bresson with his first wife Ratna Mohini in Spain (1937, photographer unknown). I've seen the photo many times before, the only place I can find it now is in "Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century", p.37.
 
What story? Please elaborate for I see a snap of a young man and a bored partner,one of billions throughout history.
Why does such pretentious significance have to be attributed to anything HCB (God) does?
 
"
Quote:
Originally Posted by peterm1
The man in the photo actually looks like a young HCB. Was he a relative?


That's Cartier-Bresson with his first wife Ratna Mohini in Spain (1937, photographer unknown). I've seen the photo many times before, the only place I can find it now is in "Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century", p.37."

That figures! She looks p#ssed off.

Just like my wife when I put my arm around her shoulder. This is because as a general rule, usually when men put their arm around their wife's shoulder its because they are trying to placate them for some indiscretion the husband has committed. Henri and I are no exceptions.

Learned from long years of hard experience, two marriages and several long term relationship - see, guys do learn (eventually).
 
If you want unbiased opinions, you should not state who made the picture. Also, the picture should not somehow give away who made the picture or why it was made.

Also . . . you should not load the question with words like "wonderful image".


EDIT: now that I retink this, you did not ask for opinions of the picture. I ran away with the wrong idea :D
 
Doesnt mean anything to me and I have imagination but its just a picture of a couple. I could imagine lots of things about it but picture doeznt move me to do so.
 
I see a fairly ordinary snapshot of a couple who may or may not be in love. Unfortunately the photo is dominated by a hand that has had the lower portion cut off through sloppy framing.
 
Funny, dozens of different story possibilities spring up in my mind, catalyzed by this picture.
 
FrankS said:
Funny, dozens of different story possibilities spring up in my mind, catalyzed by this picture.
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Frank, I don't see it that way. IMO, this picture would not stop viewers in their tracks and catalyze a story in their minds. What's going on in this thread is people have been asked to wrap a story around the picture (and they have been told it's a wonderful picture by HCB ! ), at least that is how we are reacting . . . "Can you make up a story behind this picture" . . . . of course, anyone can, when asked.

But I don't think this picture would normally stir up anyone's imagination.

That's just my opinion, of course.
 
I'm curious how anyone can look at this picture and a wave of scenarios, questions and possibilities doesn't instantly wash across their minds and stir up their imagination.

That wasn't aimed at you personally, Dave. I posted that before I saw your post.
 
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