What lenses did Doisneau use

[telenous]

it seem there is strong artificial lighting used in the concierge with glasses picture
probably 6 to 8 feet high & rollei?

I am far from a flash expert but that's what I think too. The other 'Les Concierges' photo (link -> http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images..._2529012_f4f1abe67d549edc64e9835da54d3f14.jpg) also strikes me as artificially lit. I can't find any links for the indoor environmental portraits I alluded to earlier on; they present an interesting problem of how one could set up the shot to achieve Doisneau's outstanding result. I 'll have a look around the web and if I find them I 'll post later.

 

[Pablito]

His most famous photo, "Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville" ("Kiss at the Hotel de Ville") was posed.

And that photo has an interesting story behind itl:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Paris_Mon_Amour.html

 

[Tom A]

Doisneau used a lot of different cameras. In his work at Renault he mainly used "plate" cameras and supposedly some early Rollieflexes. In his later years he used a lot of Nikon F's. In 1978 Filipachi-Denoel in France published a series of books by Jean Loup Sieff (Death Valley), Martine Frank (on aging) and Doisneau did a book on La Loire. In these books there was also a small technical section and he stated that he used two Nikon F's, 105/50/35 and a PC control 28 (and Tri X through out).
Later he used R5/R6 Leica with 35/50/100mm lenses (and possibly the 180f3.4).
He was a master with the Rollieflex and the series he did on the "Banlieu's des Paris" (suburbs of Paris) where mostly shot with Rollieflexes.
One book that I have of his is a compilation of his work at Renault. It is a modest softcover book, but the slip cover is made out of steel with a Renault shaped impression, thouhg rather than saying Renault is says Doisneau. It is painted bright red. A true hard cover book!

 

[CONNOR MJ]

thanks to all who replied or followed this forum,the reason for the question was to learn a little more about this great and inspirational photographer Robert Doisneau
and who clearly shows that simple and beautiful images work and dont need to be
supersharp or technically complex.posed or genuinely candid didn't affect his popularity or success.I use a leica now but I have lost what I once had when I used
to roam the streets like Atjet with my Rolleicord atb matt c

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

His most famous photo, "Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville" ("Kiss at the Hotel de Ville") was posed.

It wasn't "posed". What actually happened is that he paid the two models to go ahead and do that; he then took the photo. I'd say it was "staged", but "posed" it certainly wasn't.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Robert Doisneau
(...) who clearly shows that simple and beautiful images work and dont need to be
supersharp or technically complex.posed or genuinely candid didn't affect his popularity or success.

I agree; and in that spirit I took this photo at the Doisneau Exhibit in Paris (which I attended along with Beniliam and his friend):



Unfortunately, I had little time to think about the "technical" aspects of the shot. Photography inside was prohibited, but I managed to sneak my super super super super loud M8 out of the bag without being noticed 😉

 

[mfunnell]

It wasn't "posed". What actually happened is that he paid the two models to go ahead and do that; he then took the photo. I'd say it was "staged", but "posed" it certainly wasn't.

"Staged" versus "posed" - quite a useful distinction, and well worth making in this case.

...Mike

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Staged or posed, the models were certainly not paid, hence the later court action when they thought they'd been "used".

Really? I read that somebody had a "receipt". I shall peruse some French-language postings on the case; I really don't trust translations, specially UK translations, where they tend to morph what was said and transform what was meant. A great treat for Lewis Carrol it would have been...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

A quick search gave me this:

En 1950, Robert Doisneau, avait été sollicité par le magazine américain "Life" pour un reportage sur les amoureux de Paris. Alors qu'il prend un verre dans un bistrot parisien, le photographe repère un jeune et beau couple d'amoureux. Aussitôt, il propose aux deux jeunes gens, élèves du célèbre cours de théâtre Simon, de poser pour lui. Elle s'appelle Françoise Bornet, lui, Jacques Carteaud (décédé dernièrement). La photo devient mythique en 1986, avec la commercialisation du poster. En 1992, il a déjàété vendu à 410.000 exemplaires, un record mondial. Tous croient qu'il s'agit d'un cliché pris sur le vif, au hasard de la rue et nombreux sont ceux qui croient s'y reconnaître. En mai 1992, Jean et Denise Lavergne déclarent au magazine l'Express que le "Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville" a été pris àleur insu. Doisneau rétablit la vérité en révélant qu'il s'agit d'une photo "posée".

So basically, he was asked by Life magazine to do a reportage on "the lovers" of Paris; he asked two "young people" who were students at Theatre Simon to pose for him (Francoise Bornet and Jacques Carteaud). And according to this, he apparently said it does have that rendition of a "posed photograph". He didn't say it was... oh ze French and their lofty use of language tsk tsk tsk 😉

So there you have it. Except the "paying" part. So he asked, at least...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I live in France Gabriel, and have done for a considerable time. Check out the press around the early 90s, I think the court case was shortly before the artist death in 94.
Here in France it was on the evening news and all the papers every day for about a week. A good source I suggest would be "Liberation", a highly respectable french national daily.

Yeah, I'm getting that now. That's what happens when you don't have a Model Release, people! Let zat be a lesson for all of us! Don't be caught saying "ah, put@in...". 😉

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

"Staged" versus "posed" - quite a useful distinction, and well worth making in this case.

Yep; and court cases can sometimes be undone by such seemingly-equal "understandings" which turn out to be evidence of rifts in the "meeting of the minds".

I say again: Model Release, guys!

 

[CONNOR MJ]

staged,posed or candid who cares as long as the picture works and at best has a
relationship with the history of photography,Nice pic Gabriel atb matt c

 

[RayPA]

I was looking at some of his photos earlier today and had the same thought. I wonder in particular about the two Concierge(s) photos and a few of his indoor environmental portraits.

Hi Alkis, those are good examples of what I think are flash shots,too. Also, they seem obviously, but cleverly staged/posed.


.

 

[Beniliam]

Other famous image: Café noir et blanc.

Seems flash too, no?

 

[Beniliam]

My last contribute. Sorry if Im boring.

Doisneau par Jean Dieuzaide, and Cartier Bresson using... a waist level folding camera! 🙂

 

[CONNOR MJ]

Hi Alkis, those are good examples of what I think are flash shots,too. Also, they seem obviously, but cleverly staged/posed.


.

If you look closely at the concierge aux lunettes (With spectacles) the shadow on the plant and bicycle wheel sujests a flood lamp or flash well to the left of Robert even if he stood on a chair.As for "Concierges"was there any glass in the windows.
look like mosquito nets

 

[pesphoto]

My last contribute. Sorry if Im boring.

Doisneau par Jean Dieuzaide, and Cartier Bresson using... a waist level folding camera! 🙂

Boring? Not at all. Nice to see you have a blog. Wish it was in english as well. I'll try a translator online. Though your photography is more than enough to look at, thanks for sharing it.

 

[nico]

Beni,
thanks for sharing, you made me curious: where did you find the italian comic on Doisneau?
thanks
nico

 

[nico]

err ... googled "pino antonelli" the name of the author and got this
http://www.pinoantonelli.com/storie_a_strisce/index.htm
and this
http://www.pinoantonelli.com/storie_a_strisce/personaggi.htm
sorry if I highjacked the thread,
ciao

 

[Letien]

Doisneau is my most admired photographer not only because of his photography but also his humble personality and his love to his country and the city he lived. I think he was not fairly recognized at least by international public. If you are familiar with french language, you will see his photo often in magazine or textbook.