HCB Quotes

I wondered if anyone would like to comment on the following? I find most of them quite valid.

http://www.photoquotes.com/showquote...-Bresson,Henri

People like to dog on HCB because he's held up high as this amazing photographer, and apparently some aren't that impressed by his photos.

BUT, I'll maintain that he's a philosopher's photographer. The things he says are valid and often brilliant ruminations on the art of photographing.

Interesting quotes.

I always found his photographs to be visually interesting and somewhat quirky. They often carry a sense of humor about them.

In fact if someone thought what he does is easy, go out one day with a few rolls of film and see if you can do it.

Betcha can't.

I think photography is what you want it to be, which is different for everybody.

His way was one way, and there are many ways, more or less valid depending on your own views.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thomas Bertilsson

I think photography is what you want it to be, which is different for everybody.

His way was one way, and there are many ways, more or less valid depending on your own views.

---

I agree with this. It always bothered me that HCB didn't print his own work and, as I understood it, didn't care much for printing generally. To me that's a big part of photography. Capturing the moment is only part of it for me. Don't get me wrong, though, HCB's a rockstar no doubt.

My favorite -- the one that resonates the mostly strongly in me.

Quote:

---

This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thomas Bertilsson

I think photography is what you want it to be, which is different for everybody.

His way was one way, and there are many ways, more or less valid depending on your own views.

---

Exactly!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vaughn

My favorite -- the one that resonates the mostly strongly in me.

---

This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Don't get me wrong, I love Cartier-Bresson, and I have the utmost respect for your words and contributions, Vaughn. But how does one 'coordinate' visual elements? Unless you actually reach out and physically move things around, you have no control of how things are coordinated; they happen the way they happen because X amount of people, animals, and other objects decide to move based on their intention and forces of nature. The photographer is not in control of anything other than the shutter and where to aim the lens. I really love how Jay Maisel calls it 'framing' instead of composition.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thomas Bertilsson

I think photography is what you want it to be, which is different for everybody.

His way was one way, and there are many ways, more or less valid depending on your own views.

---

Thomas, I would also agree with this. Art has many perspectives.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thomas Bertilsson

This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Don't get me wrong, I love Cartier-Bresson, and I have the utmost respect for your words and contributions, Vaughn. But how does one 'coordinate' visual elements? Unless you actually reach out and physically move things around, you have no control of how things are coordinated; they happen the way they happen because X amount of people, animals, and other objects decide to move based on their intention and forces of nature. The photographer is not in control of anything other than the shutter and where to aim the lens. I really love how Jay Maisel calls it 'framing' instead of composition.

---

However Thomas, I don't agree with your take on this. The coordination of visual elements is a combination of framing, flow of time and the moment you press the shutter. You don't have to physically move things around. That sounds a bit like Photoshop.