What a pleasure meeting all of you yesterday afternoon. I am excited to be working with you and looking forward to seeing your images on this blog. Check in frequently, as I will try to update on a daily basis.
Yesterday we saw a lot of work by Street Photographers of old. Many of them have inspired me and continue to inform my own work. The lessons we learn from their images and their practice are invaluable. Below is a short list of additional materials for each photographer, with biographical information, galleries of images, list of publications and interviews.
Eugene Atget (1857-1927)
Jacque Henri Lartigue (1894-1986)
"Photography to me is catching a moment which is passing, and which is true."
A four part documentary about Lartigue's life and his photography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By5zjQQ4VzY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1C_hcv7kbw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5dnqaPfKyU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7qP5FOypQ
Henri Cartier Bresson (1908-2004)
"To take photographs means to recognize — simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one‘s head, one‘s eye and one‘s heart on the same axis."
An interview with Henri Cartier Bresson from 2003:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1318621
A terrific blog dedicated to Street Photography by Eric Kim, 10 Lesson of Cartier Bresson:
http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/08/22/10-things-henri-cartier-bresson-can-teach-you-about-street-photography/
Luminous Lint is a great database of Master Photographers, filled with biographical information, publications, quotes, and images:
http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/photographer/Henri__Cartier-Bresson/A/
Andre Kertesz (1894-1985)
"The camera is my tool. Through it I give a reason to everything around me."
A beautiful Portfolio of Kertesz' work:
http://www.photography-now.net/andre_kertesz/
http://www.atgetphotography.com/The-Photographers/Andre-Kertesz.html
Helen Levitt (1913-2009)
"Since I'm inarticulate, I express myself through images."
A wonderful article about Levitt's life and her career:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/arts/design/30levitt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
A gallery of Helen Levitt's work:
http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/photographer/Helen__Levitt/C/
An Helen Levitt film In The Street, 1948
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyBEWD3M5r4
Robert Frank (1924-)
"There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment."
A great All Things Considered story on Robert Frank's The Americans
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100688154
A really in depth analysis of Frank's work and techniques.
http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/01/07/timeless-lessons-street-photographers-can-learn-from-robert-franks-the-americans/
William Klein (1928-)
"I used the wide-angle lens as a normal lens. I had no philosophy about it. When I looked in the viewfinder and realized I could see all the contradictions and confusion that was there with the wide-angle—that was what was great. "
Eric Kim's 10 Lessons of William Klein, a fantastic essay about Klein's work.
http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/03/26/10-lessons-william-klein-has-taught-me-about-street-photography/
An interview with William Klein.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75HuLN9FjA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g9IksGqiUM
I really enjoyed the class and looking forward to digging into this information. My goal is to work on overcoming my fear this week. Well, at least nudging the needle in the right direction. As an introvert this is a more terrifying prospect than that improv class I tool a couple years ago!
ReplyDeleteTraci, the fear is definitely very natural. Overcoming it is also incredibly gratifying. There are many techniques to becoming a natural at this. Perhaps it would help you to begin by shooting from the hip until you feel more comfortable with the feeling of photographing strangers on the street. And remember, most people really like the attention and will gladly pose for you. Check out today's post for more helpful hints from Eric Kim's blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm most comfortable as a "fly on the wall" and I'm getting better at shooting from the hip, but I'd like to start interacting with people. There should be a lot of people out on First Friday in Old City this weekend, so I'm planning to take my camera and see what happens!
ReplyDeleteI just posted some street photos I took over the past few days. I'm new to blogging, so I hope they were successfully uploaded and you can see them. I would love to have feedback!
ReplyDelete