Why HCB uses a 50mm lens

[boojum]

I do not think it was the brush which made this painter. Any brush would have worked. He chose the ones he favored but I think we can be sure the quality of his work was unchanged. Things sure would have been different around here and in the camera world if he had favored the Contax II or III. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contax_II

 

[Coldkennels]

I do not think it was the brush which made this painter. Any brush would have worked. He chose the ones he favored but I think we can be sure the quality of his work was unchanged. Things sure would have been different around here and in the camera world if he had favored the Contax II or III.

I doubt it. Capa swapped to the Contax before he died and still regularly gets mentioned as a Leica photographer.

And at the risk of angering the Contax fans in here... there was no way that camera system was ever going to become the template for 35mm cameras to come, even if HCB used it for his whole life. I have a strong love/hate relationship with my Contax II, and every time I take it out, I realise why we don't have anything like as many "Contax copies" as we do "Leica copies". The Contax is a fiddly, convoluted, and idiosyncratic mess.

 

[Dogman]

In the Magnum archives about 7.000 pictures of Cartier-Bresson are preserved. About 400 or 500 of them are world famous. Everybody knows they were made with a 50mm or a 35mm lens.

I was talking about the picture of the three boys in front of a fence that has been scratched by children, somewere in Canada. That is an astonishingly beautiful photo. What's the point of whining about a camera or a lens while looking at such a masterpiece. The same goes for the photo with the wine bottles and many other photos by Cartier-Bresson.

Erik.

Okay, I understand what photo was being referenced now. I agree, it's a lovely picture.

 

[Dogman]

I don't think I've seen a single picture of his shot with his Contax T or Leica Minilux post-retirement. Does anyone have any on hand to share?

https://pindelski.org/Photography/2007/05/23/point-and-shoot-and-hank-carter/


Not an HCB photo but it does show him with a Minilux. David Douglas Duncan photo. I have the book referenced (I think). Thirty six photos of Cartier-Bresson across a table sipping coffee and conversing. Not a bad way to spend and afternoon.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Not an HCB photo but it does show him with a Minilux. David Douglas Duncan photo. I have the book referenced (I think). Thirty six photos of Cartier-Bresson across a table sipping coffee and conversing. Not a bad way to spend and afternoon.

Now that we have established that HCB was at least temporarily in physical possession of a Minilux and held it up to his eye on at least one occasion, where do we go from here? What are we to learn? I'm guessing Leica sent him one hoping someone would take a picture of him holding it up to his eye. David Douglas Duncan obliged. Was HCB on an annual retainer from Leica to hold its latest camera up to his eye whenever he was doing an interview? What a great idea for a Christmas calendar. Twelve photos of HCB holding a Leica camera to his eye, a different one for each month of the year. I bet that would sell like hotcakes.

 

[oldwino]

https://pindelski.org/Photography/2007/05/23/point-and-shoot-and-hank-carter/


Not an HCB photo but it does show him with a Minilux. David Douglas Duncan photo. I have the book referenced (I think). Thirty six photos of Cartier-Bresson across a table sipping coffee and conversing. Not a bad way to spend and afternoon.

I feel relatively certain that if “Hank Carter” were around today, he’d probably be shooting a Ricoh GRIIIx or one of the little Panasonic m43 cameras.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I looked at “Peefeeniz’s” posting history and he seems rather knowledgeable and experienced with both SLR and rangefinder. And also has a wonderfully snarky attitude, which is sorely needed here.

Well, Joe, in case you haven't noticed, peefeeniz's avatar is the Swastika in the Star of David . Is that sorely needed here too?

Mike

 

[Garden Maniac]

I’m a long time lurker on rff, googled this guy out of curiosity - really depressing https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/...wish-center-moves-forward.html?outputType=amp

 

[jsrockit]

Not an HCB photo but it does show him with a Minilux.

Was he making serious photographs for the public to see during this time? I think that is the difference.

 

[Dervla]

I’m a long time lurker on rff, googled this guy out of curiosity - really depressing https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/...wish-center-moves-forward.html?outputType=amp

I agree.

Is the the avatar used by peefeeniz, a swastika in the Star of David, acceptable on RFF?

 

[jsrockit]

I agree.

Is the the avatar used by peefeeniz, a swastika in the Star of David, acceptable on RFF?

I am not seeing any activity by peefeeniz in this thread. Perhaps he has already been banned?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I believe all of the posts made by peefeeniz are gone from RFF. Clean Sweep.
That answers the question about Swastikas in the Star of David.

 

[raydm6]

I'm not sure if this is where Mike saw that user avatar, but it is appearing as the last post to a thread I started Saturday (although his post is not appearing there). Strange... (mods, please delete this post or image if not appropriate).

 

[Dervla]

I'm not sure if this is where Mike saw that user avatar, but it is appearing as the last post to a thread I started Saturday (although his post is not appearing there). Strange... (mods, please delete this post or image if not appropriate).

Yup. That is where and when I saw it. The image is still there now. Scroll to yesterday’s posts.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yup. That is where and when I saw it. The image is still there now. Scroll to yesterday’s posts.

You can check peefeeniz profile and confirm that all posts are gone from RFF. You can do a web search on "peefeeniz" and see he is spreading his filth on other forums.

 

[Evergreen States]

You can check peefeeniz profile and confirm that all posts are gone from RFF. You can do a web search on "peefeeniz" and see he is spreading his filth on other forums.

I'm happy that mods seem to have stepped up after Frank Petronio came in here spouting neo-Nazi Holocaust Denialism a couple years back.
[Update] Holy crap I can't believe this but peefeeniz probably was Petronio sneaking back here with an alt after being banned. I took Sonnar Brian's advice and looked the name up on other forums and saw on one of them that peefeeniz lists their location as Spencerport, NY, which is where Petronio lives.

 

[Dogman]

Frank went off the rails years ago, not long before he fell in love with tattooed girls of questionable beauty and off-the-wall theories and political sewage. He was a pretty good photographer too but he appears to be a hopeless case now.

 

[Dervla]

I believe all of the posts made by peefeeniz are gone from RFF. Clean Sweep.
That answers the question about Swastikas in the Star of David.

Definitely not a Clean Sweep; and, the question has not been answered.

To repeat the question: "Is the the avatar used by peefeeniz, a swastika in the Star of David, acceptable on RFF?"

Although the text in peefeeniz’s posts is gone, his hateful avatar remains on RFF.

A screen grab a few minutes ago, see next to last entry.

 

[jsrockit]

To repeat the question: "Is the the avatar used by peefeeniz, a swastika in the Star of David, acceptable on RFF?"

Of course it is not...and you know it isn't. Since it was not updated since he posted, we probably just have to wait until that thread is updated for it to disappear. I made a little reply in order to get rid of it.

 

[Evergreen States]

Of course it is not...and you know it isn't. Since it was not updated since he posted, we probably just have to wait until that thread is updated for it to disappear. I made a little reply in order to get rid of it.

It’s a bummer that what started was a spirited, if heated at times, discussion on Henri Cartier-Bresson and his use of equipment has been derailed due to some wacko feeling the need to inflict provocative hateful imagery on us. I appreciate a lot of the discussions here and the posters who make them. It’s just sad that some feel the need to be disruptive like this. You’d think they’d have grown out of this sort of behavior in their teens.