William Klein contact sheet video

[Robin Harrison]

This isn't new (the youtube video is nearly 2 years old, and the program was made in 1989), but it took PetaPixel highlighting it this morning for me to discover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75HuLN9FjA

Never have I seen contact sheets presented as such a seemingly essential part of understanding photography, and especially shooting on the street. Rarely have I heard a photographer talk of his photos from 35 years ago with such clarity of recall and such vivid conjuring of time and place.

Yes, digital shooters could print out all their shots unedited on 36-shot pages and achieve a similar thing, but I'd like to meet one who does. Digital has largely robbed us - the viewer, the photo-consumer, the wannabe image-maker - of this rich photographic document. But maybe more importantly, it has robbed photographers of the chance to think about their own photographs in the way Klein so evidently benefits from.

Highly recommended viewing. Some transcript highlights, and my fuller take on it: http://wp.me/p1DPtj-3s

 

[sevres_babylone]

Thanks so posting. Simply one of the best I've seen.

I think you can obtain a similar thing with digital -- a page from Photo Mechanic or similar program. More problematic is the temptation to quickly delete the misfires or alternate shots.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

related:

There is a three-disc DVD set of a documentary on photographers, presented with their contact sheets of 'famous' images. It's called "Contacts."
Disc 1: Henri Cartier-Bresson, William Klein, Raymond Depardon, Marc Riboud
Disc 2: Sophie Calle, Nan Goldin, Sarah Moon, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff
Disc 3: Thomas Struth, Wolfgang Tillmans, Roni Horn, Bernd Becher, Hilla Becher

I've seen the first, through Netflix. I felt it was a bit dry, but i'm not a great fan of any of those particular photographers.

Also, new - about to be released - is this Magnum book:
http://www.tandhhighlights.co.uk/9780500543993.html

And, there is this one:
http://www.ammobooks.com/books/contact/

I haven't seen either book in person, but hope to check them out soon.

 

[Moriturii]

http://vimeo.com/5426750?ab

HCB version, it's better then the Contacts one (although same video) because in this one HCB himself speaks.

 

[Robin Harrison]

Thanks so posting. Simply one of the best I've seen.

I think you can obtain a similar thing with digital -- a page from Photo Mechanic or similar program. More problematic is the temptation to quickly delete the misfires or alternate shots.

Exactly - the temptation is to delete the duffs and shots you know won't work. Only natural - saves ink, saves space, makes you look a 'better photographer'. But that completely negates the sense of story that the contact sheet creates.

Also worth mentioning is that the necessity to change rolls of film often also leads to natural break in the images, especially for dynamic street shooting. With digital, that break doesn't come regularly on the 36 o'clock!

 

[Robin Harrison]

related:

There is a three-disc DVD set of a documentary on photographers, presented with their contact sheets of 'famous' images. It's called "Contacts."

I will keep an eye out for this. I take it from the previous commenter that it is not narrated by the photographers themselves?

Also, new - about to be released - is this Magnum book:
http://www.tandhhighlights.co.uk/9780500543993.html

Ah, yes! Had seen something about this a while ago. Thanks for the reminder. Released just in time for my birthday!

And, there is this one:
http://www.ammobooks.com/books/contact/

I have this one. It's ok, but compared even to this simple 14-minute video, it's a let-down. Some of the 'contact sheets' are just one or two images, which feels like they are showing just variations, rather than progressions and stories. There is also not enough text. It is tri-lingual, and half of what there it is there is just a photographer's biography.

 

[sepiareverb]

Thanks Robin- This is a great piece for my Photo 1 class to watch. They started today and only one of the fourteen has ever used film before.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Rarely have I heard a photographer talk of his photos from 35 years ago with such clarity of recall and such vivid conjuring of time and place.

Yes, digital shooters could print out all their shots unedited on 36-shot pages and achieve a similar thing, but I'd like to meet one who does. Digital has largely robbed us - the viewer, the photo-consumer, the wannabe image-maker - of this rich photographic document.

Part of the problem is the rampant "who cares!" nonluminati and "so what?"-ism, where perceived "elitism" is accused of searching for "holy grails" (that was first made evident when some photographers started asking for not-yet-commercially-available full-frame 35mm digital cameras.

To the point where the most wise have learned to keep to themselves in order not to provoke flame wars.

"Back then" an exchange and challenging of ideas was crucial for reaching excellence. Now most people cannot handle the slightest critique (nor the reasons behind them), to the point where there is no distinction between being rude and being amicably honest. A lot has been lost, and it's not, in my very unhumble opinion, "digital" that is alone to blame.

It's all "me", and a public long deprived of having their voice heard has taken to virtual popularity contests...making just about anything popular, as easy as we can, as fast as we can.

The time to gain the experience, the know-how, and to develop your own film and contact prints is, for the moment, perceived as a "fool's errand".

Tant pis.

 

[sevres_babylone]

I have this one. It's ok, but compared even to this simple 14-minute video, it's a let-down. Some of the 'contact sheets' are just one or two images, which feels like they are showing just variations, rather than progressions and stories. There is also not enough text. It is tri-lingual, and half of what there it is there is just a photographer's biography.

Regarding the Ammo book, I also have it, and largely agree with Robin Harrison's comments. I don't regret buying it though.

I quite like the Jim Marshall book "Proof" which shows his contact sheets.

That said, what I liked about the video was hearing from William Klein about his decisions, both in shooting and editing. It was also a good reminder that at events like sporting events or concerts, the unique shots are often not on the field or the stage.