What strikes me in photography is that theres a desire to understand, to understand oneself. The show debuted in 1947 together with the publication of his first book, the photographs of henri cartier bresson. He is regarded as a pioneer of candid and street photography but he is also wellknown for having produced some of the most compelling photographic portraits of notables ranging from jeanpaul sartre and leonard bernstein to marilyn monroe and malcolm x. In 1940 he was captured by the germans and spent three years in prisonerofwar camps before escaping to join the paris underground. Henri cartierbresson fondation henri cartierbresson. Despite the subtitle of pierre assoulines book, this is not the definitive biography of henri cartier bresson, and. Henri cartierbresson was a french photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism, an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography. Henri cartierbresson august 22, 1908 august 3, 2004 is perhaps the greatest photographer of the twentieth century. The preface by the film director satyajit ray distils cartier bresson. It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera they are made with the eye, heart and head. He helped develop street photography, and approvingly cited a notion of the inevitability of a decisive moment, a term adopted as the title for his first major book. Henri cartierbresson is arguably the most famous photographer alive. Henri cartier bresson, at eightysix, is the old master of european photography.
Published in 1952 by simon and schuster, new york, in collaboration with editions verve, paris, it was lavishly embellished with a collage cover by henri matisse. Henri cartierbresson masters of photography 01jul2004. In 1932, after spending a year in the ivory coast, he discovered the leica his camera of choice after that moment and began a lifelong passion for photography. China a bantam gallery edition by cartier bresson, henri and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Henry cartierbresson and richard avedon interview 2000. The book consists ofas the title plainly statesinterviews and conversations. His pictures are mostly captured with a leica camera. Henri cartier bresson for me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity. Henri cartierbresson project gutenberg selfpublishing.
It was possible because bresson had access to a candid camera, a small leica that allowed him to be more flexible. Steidl, as with all the books that they print, did an amazing job with cartier bresson s the decisive moment. That said, i own the decisive moment but it would not be my first choice. Born in 1908, he studied painting before embarking on a career in photography in the early 1930s. Official book of the martine franck a retrospective exhibition, being shown at the fondation henri cartier bresson in paris, from november 6th, 2018 to february 10th, 2019.
Henri cartierbresson photographer profile magnum photos. I have many of cartierbressons books, but this is the one i find myself drawn to. Books on henri cartierbresson master of photography. His special ability was to use a 50mm lens but allow the photo to breathe almost as if shot with a 35mm. Photographers henri cartierbresson and walker evans. Henri cartier bresson born in chanteloup, france, 1908. Henri cartierbresson photographer of henri cartierbresson. Behind the gare saint lazare by henri cartier bresson. In 1932, at the age of twentyfour, henri cartier bresson acquired a hand held leica camera and his previously casual interest in photography became a passion.
The pictures here are drawn in part from momas collection, but principally from the holdings of the henri cartierbresson foundation in paris, which. Cartierbresson regarded lhote as his teacher of photography without a camera. For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides. It is no coincidence that henri cartier bresson preferred a 50mm lens on his leica 35mm rangefinder camera. Using the same distinctive personal style, characterized by strong graphics and a classic look in both color and bw, bill dobbins has also developed a body of work featuring fashion, beauty and glamor photos in a world in which so many images create a level of. Bresson discussed about his thought about photography especially photojournalism. Henri cartierbresson the decisive moment photobook photography see for more.
With powerful individual vision, magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities. With his everpresent leica camera, henri cartierbresson captured the raw. From the mid1920s, when the leica the small german camera with a precision lens and roll film that could be gripped in one hand came on. Sire knows henri cartier bresson s practice inside out, and here, she gives a pitstop tour through the defining characteristics of his approach. Paris the city and its people has pervaded his work ever since he first exchanged his paintbrushes for a camera, influenced by the surrealist movement of the late 1920s. Photographic icon henri cartierbresson was known for using only one camera, a leica rangefinder, and one lens, a 50mm, for almost all of his lifes work photographers have always realized that this allowed him to focus his attention so that he always knew exactly what. Noch in schutzfolie eingeschweisst english text still sealed in publishers shrinkwrap. Henri cartierbresson quotes quotable quote for me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which. If you could only have one henri cartierbresson book. Henri cartierbresson was born, as a son of a wealthy textile manufacturer, in chanteloupenbrie, seineetmarne, france. Henri cartier bresson is one of the finest image makers of our time. Photography, includes a henri cartier bresson image. By reading this book, you get insight about what inside bressons mind on. Dont just shoot 50mm because henri cartierbresson did so.
Bill dobbins the body photogapher became well known for his male and female physique photos images of the aesthetic, athletic body. A pioneer of the documentary photography genre, he was one the founders, along with robert capa, of the pho tography agency magnum. Born in chanteloup, seineetmarne, henri cartier bresson developed a strong fascination with painting early on, and particularly with surrealism. August 22, 1908 august 3, 2004 was a french humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 35 mm film. One of my cherished possessions is his book henri cartierbresson in india 1985, handsomely signed for me by its author. Behind the gare saintlazare is said to be the best photo henri cartier bresson ever took. Henri cartierbresson photographer, filmmaker biography. Eleven thousand seven hundred copies of this book were printed in january, 1947, for the trustees of the museum. For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity. I ordered the book from germany a few months ago, just after it was reprinted, and it arrived in california in just 3 days, without me specifying some expedite shipping. Henri cartierbresson has 109 books on goodreads with 16338 ratings. The return of henri cartierbressons decisive moment time. This is an excellent book that deserves better promotion by amazon. A brief conversation with richard avedon, then a discussion with photographer henri cartier bresson in paris.
Photographic icon henri cartierbresson was known for using only one camera, a leica rangefinder, and one lens, a 50mm, for almost all of his lifes work photographers have always realized that this allowed him to focus his attention so that he always knew exactly what would be in his frame without needing a viewfinder. Within the canon of european photography books it would be difficult to find one more famous, revered and influential as henri cartierbresson s images a. After escaping from prison camp in 1943, he made portraits of artists, covered the liberation of paris and filmed a documentary on the return of war prisoners. It had a offgold dust cover and was about 11x11 inches. In a career spanning over sixty years, he has used his camera as an impassive and neutral third eye to capture the vagaries of human behaviour and to produce some of the most memorable and compelling photographs ever published. Over the next three years he created one of the most original and influential bodies of work in the history of photography.
He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment. Henri cartierbresson, a filmmaker and cocreator of the photo agency magnum, established photojournalism as an art form. You can also read magnum photos us cultural director pauline vermare on henri cartier bresson s role in the history of street photography here. Henri cartierbresson french photographer britannica. Henri cartierbresson the decisive moment photobook. The show debuted in 1947 together with the publication of his first book, the photographs of henri cartierbresson. With his everpresent leica camera, henri cartierbresson captured the raw and the sweet, the comic and the profound moments of lives that were lost in the grind or relegated to someone elses memorythe coincidental moment at which a reflection in a puddle of water mimics a. August 22, 1908 august 3, 2004 was a french photographer considered the master of candid photography, and an early user of 35 mm film. Henri cartierbresson telecharger en version imprimable pdf, 2. Cartier bresson was a champion of the leica camera and one of the first photographers to maximize its capabilities. Born in chanteloupenbrie, seineetmarne, henri cartierbresson developed a strong fascination with painting early on, and particularly with surrealism. Hcb just seemed to know how to frame so that it looks wider than it should.
The photographs of henri cartierbresson texts by lincoln kirstein and beaumont newhall author cartier bresson, henri, 19082004 date. Magnum photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer members. Every person interested in photography should have and study this book read more. Read more about cartier bresson s life and career at. Henri cartierbresson for me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity. In 1932, after spending a year in the ivory coast, he discovered the leica his camera of choice thereafter and began a lifelong passion for photography. Fotos henri cartierbresson magnum hh tekst olaf tempelman 10. Within the canon of european photography books it would be difficult to find one more famous, revered and influential as henri cartierbresson s the decisive moment, wrote jeffrey ladd in time lightbox, in a feature on steidls new edition of this ultimate photobook classic. Henri cartierbresson photography, bio, ideas theartstory. He helped develop the street photography or real life reportage style that has influenced generations of photographers that followed.
He studied painting and then began to photograph in the early 1930s. Originally published in 1952, this collection of cartier bresson s best work from his early years was embellished with a. Henri cartier besson 19082004 was one of the greatest photographers. Cartier bresson s work spanned photographic genres for the entirety of his long career. In 1947, henri cartierbresson, along with robert capa, george rodger, david chim. There was a book published in the 1960s called something like henri cartier bresson photographs. With his everpresent leica camera, henri cartierbresson captured the raw and the sweet, the comic and the profound moments of lives that were lost in the grind or relegated to someone elses memorythe coincidental moment at which a reflection in a puddle of water mimics a poster on a nearby wall or when lovers kiss. The best books on street photography in 2020 digital. Nearly every book on this list, from life in 50mm to street. Henri cartierbresson s most popular book is the minds eye. His work defined how we look at the 20th century, and his phrase the decisive moment has become the motto of nearly everyone with a camera. Photography by henri cartierbresson book cover by henri matisse music by claude debussy piano. Henri cartierbresson is one of the finest image makers of our time.
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