Who would you be? HCB or WeeGee?

[TPPhotog]

For me it would have to be HCB who as far as I can see was the perfect gentleman and a talented artist. No disrespect to Weegee but it's far easier to capture the dramatic than it is to capture human behavior as art.

As an aside I also love the work of Capa who shot much more than just war pictures. Anyone remember his Hollywood period? There again there was another "very social" drinker and gambler 😉

 

[Socke]

None of the above. At the moment I'm pretty happy with being myself 🙂

 

[Beniliam]

None of the above. At the moment I'm pretty happy with being myself 🙂

Exactly I think equal. I admired very much Cartier Bresson´s, Doisneau´s, Erwitt´s works... but I think I can do good photos too. Why not? 🙂 I envy the travels around the world of Henri, but Im young and I believe that I can travel too yet 😀

 

[Bertram2]

None of both. I'd prefer Batman. 😉

 

[zpuskas]

FrankS I agree, I feel the same way about Annie Liebovitz. Famous subjects, famous pictures. The best?
I'd rather be HCB, Weegee, while a great, was just too dark for me.

 

[amateriat]

One problem here is that Weegee, famous as his name is, is known for probably a handful of "sensational" photos. But there's a lot more to his work than Mob rub-outs, fires, and other nocturnal tragedies (although he covered those better than just about anyone, whether that appeals to you or not). I'm going to the ICP exhibit ("Unknown Weegee") here in NYC on shortly.

Weegee versus HCB? Why? One is neat, the other, keen.


- Barrett

 

[jlw]

If I got to remodel myself along the lines of a famous photographer, I'd likewise prefer Erwitt (or, possibly moreso, Snowdon or Anthony Crickmay.)

But in the poll I voted for Weegee. If you were to liken photographers to thieves, I guess I'd say I have more respect for the highwayman who confronts his adversary in the open, shouts "Stand and deliver!", and takes his chances, than I do for the kind of guy who sneaks up behind the victim and picks his pocket.

 

[jlw]

For me it would have to be HCB who as far as I can see was the perfect gentleman...

I take it you haven't read John Malcolm Brinnan's essay "Just Like Java"?

If not, get ready for HCB the con man, exploiter, and master manipulator...

 

[MCTuomey]

Tough to say. Look and tell me.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

Ans.: Weegee


As for the poll, I may have misinterpreted the question. I voted for Weegee, not for his photographic lifestyle, but for his photographic workproduct. But then I prefer a blues band to a string quartet ...

If I could be any photog, I think Edw Weston would be my choice. He seemed to be able to shoot anything, anywhere, adapting styles effortlessly to his subjects.

Photographic lifestyle? Prob'ly Atget. Shooting and shooting and shooting ...

 

[Magnus]

As much as anybody ever wanted they aren't going to be either..... you might adore one or the other but thats about it ..... to many people picking up a camera and trying to copy their "idols" try being yourself, as Beniliam has become a Beniliam and not a HCB or who ever clone....

And then only a few have the qualities of becoming a "photographer" let alone an HCB or any other well known Photog.

 

[kmack]

Weegee for me. A working man with a simple philosophy: f8 and be there. A skilled craftsman who was truly an artist with a graflex.

 

[Rayt]

Weegee was the working photographer who got paid by the snap and got access to get the snaps. It is certain easier to shoot a boxing match to be near ring side. HCB on the other hand didn't do it for the money as he didn't need to. He just wandered about and took snaps. I have always found the Weegee images to be more profound but then again I don't get to see this side of life whereas in any one of HCB's typical scenes I would have walked right by without even seeing the picture. For that I admire HCB the most for being able to see and photograph extraordinary picture in a less than profound everyday life.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

HBC lives in Paris, is cared for by a younger and very attractive wife and seems to have a creative and flourishing third act (satisfying to him, at least) drawing.

Arthur Felig died penniless and unappreciated (or underappreciated anyway).

Both made indellible images of great emotional impact. So which would I choose? Hmph.

Ben

 

[dll927]

As for HCB, the above posting would have to be changed to the past tense - he died several months ago.

If I had to pick between the two (and ONLY on that basis), I'd have to go with HCB. I think both of them had their personality quirks, but even though I'm fond of Weegee's work, he always struck me as being rather closely connnected to the less savory side of life. He probably fit into NYC as well as HCB did into Paris.

To paraphrase someone above, I'll take the string quartet over the blues band, but there are other forms of music I prefer over st.4's, too.

 

[Socke]

Neither, I'm very happy being Volker and intend to stay Volker for at least 150 more years.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

HBC lives in Paris

So it is true, fame makes you immortal. A little mixup of anagrams shouldn't bother him much.

I'd rather be Hugh Hefner. The fortune alone would allow me to buy all the camera gear I want 😉

 

[morgan]

Of these two, HCB is more up my alley, but currenly I'm just completely awed by Capa. I'm reading his memoir "Slightly out of focus" and the amount of courage and flat out balls that he had is amazing.

 

[nzeeman]

i think there are many better photographers Baltermants and Capa for example.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I tend to be a W.Eugene Smith fan

though I would really like to read "Out of focus"

 

[kbg32]

A little Bresson, a little Weegee, pour in a beaker - shaken, not stirred please..........