Some facts about the father of photojournalism and by far the best street photographer of the 20th century, Henri Cartier-Bresson:
Behind Saint-Lazare Station - Paris 1932 by Henri Cartier-Bresson- He refused to edit his images after in the darkroom and insisted they be printed full frame - his belief was in composition within the camera.
- He was one of the very first photographers to work in 35mm - his chosen format because the Leica rangefinders he loved were light and easy to carry and use quickly - never used SLR cameras.
- Used 50mm lenses constantly except for rare landscape shots - prefered the 50mm prime to any other lens.
- Never used flashbulbs - "Impolite...like coming to a concert with a pistol in your hand." was his response - available light was his thing.
- Hated publicity, believed the image was the key not the photographer.
- Fought with the French Army at the outbreak of World War II and was a prisoner of war for 35 months captured in 1940.
- Worked as an active member of the French resistance during the war and used his camera to document the German occupation.
- Founded the Magnum Agency with Robert Capa, David "Chim" Seymour, Bill Vandivert, George Rodger in 1947 as a Co-Operative - members dont work for magnum they are invited to join - the agency has produced some of the definitive work of the past 50 years and is considered the agency for photo-journalists.
- Covered the death of Ghandi in 1948 and the fall of the Kuomintang in 1949 - capturing images of a world in change that are some of his most powerful.
- Always considered his firs love to be painting - not photography : in the 1970's he said "All I care about these days is painting—photography has never been more than a way into painting, a sort of instant drawing." - exhibited collections of paintings in the 1970's.
- Died in France, August 3, 2004 at 95 years of age.
"To take a photograph is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in a face of fleeing reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy."
Cartier-Bresson foundation : www.henricartierbresson.org/pres/home_en.htm
Magnum Photo : www.magnumphotos.com/
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