Discuss an Alberto Korda photograph

[Ole]

No? Doesn't ring a bell?

Well, he shot what might be the most famous of all portraits:


http://www.ils.unc.edu/~michm/Che/korda.html

[arigram]

It's more of a famous crop, the original is more like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Famousphotoche.jpg

[Andy K]

I believe he used a Leica and 90mm lens. He thought it was an ok shot, but it was only after it was published in a few papers that it gained popularity. Interestingly Korda never claimed any royalties for the photo's use.

[Ole]

Interestingly Korda never claimed any royalties for the photo's use.

"Gained" is the word. The picture was published free of royalties in Cuba, but royalties should still have been paid from the rest of the world.
BTW the copyright is still valid, and resides with his son who lives in Norway.

[blansky]

Shave off all that hair, lighten it up a bit and it could be a Leni Riefenstahl..........


Just kidding.



Michael

[Andy K]

"Gained" is the word. The picture was published free of royalties in Cuba, but royalties should still have been paid from the rest of the world.
BTW the copyright is still valid, and resides with his son who lives in Norway.

He did gain $50,000 when he sued Smirnoff for their use of the photograph to promote alcohol. He donated the money to the Cuban Health system.

[Jerevan]

This photograph (or rather the image) has taken on a life of its own. However much copyrighted, you can put a green hat on his head and have him dance with green martians, and it still is recognisable as Che. I have seen it so many times, in so many slight variations, it is actually hard to look at it and just see it for what it is. I am not even sure it's a good portrait, with the somewhat vacant look and the tight cropping. The knowledge of the history around and the person himself makes the photograph hard to judge by its own merits only.

[blansky]

I see it as strength and determination.

A great portrait.


Michael

[Jerevan]

Or Leni Riefenstahl in a wig and fake beard.

[blansky]

Or Leni Riefenstahl in a wig and fake beard.

Good point.

Michael