Discussion Board - Week # 11

DB - Week #11

Compare the work of Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson versus the work of Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado. They are photojournalist with different approaches.

1.People and Shadows - Andre Kertesz

     2. Arm and Ventilator - Andre Kertesz

3. Henri Carter-Bresson FRANCE.
1932 Paris. Place de l'Europe.Gare
Saint Lazare.

4. Henri Carter-Bresson. USA. 1947. Fire in Hoboken,
 facing Manhattan                   

5. Spanish Wake -Eugene Smith

6. The Walk to Paradise Garden -
 Eugene Smith

7. The Refugees: Iraqi Kurdistan -Sebastiao Salgado

8. The Dispossessed -Sebastiao Salgado

 What are the main differences and similarities?

The main difference between Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson versus Eugene Smith and Sabasito Salgado would be there level of visibility each photographer had as they captured an image.  Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson both believed they needed to be “invisible” when taking photos (Icevska, Week 10) whereas Eugene Smith & Sebastiao Salgado did not.

Andre Kertesz is  a pioneer of photojournalism. He waited until the right moment to capture his image. He could capture a moment by feeling it instead of having to stage it. He thought that "the subject offered itself to me and I took advantage"(Icevska,Week 10). 

Henri Carter-Bresson is considered a godfather of photojournalism. He also believed in not interrupting the scene and capturing the images around him without changing them, sometimes having to "approach the subject on tiptoe" (Icevska, Week 10) to get his shot.

On the other hand, Eugene Smith and Sabasito Salgado were very “visible” when they captured an image. Smith especially, was known to become close to the subjects of his pictures (Icevska, Week 11). He would also edit his work in the dark room before he felt they reflected what he was trying to capture. An example of this is his picture, Spanish Wake, Smith adjusted the light so that the audience would see the picture the way he wanted them to, instead of seeing the image that was really captured (Icevska, Week 11).

 Much like Eugene Smith, Sebastiao Salgado interacted with the people who were in his photographs. He felt that he had to enter the circle, almost becoming the people he would photograph, so he could better understand the existence of the people (Icevska,Week 11).

The main similarities between these four photographers are that they all captured real life events/moments. After viewing their photos, you can see that no matter how visible or invisible these photographers were in the process, they all captured true emotion. 

What’s the better journalistic approach?

The Code of Ethics of the National Press Photographers Association state that photojournalists should respect the integrity of the photographic moment. The long postproduction process, regardless if it is in a dark room or on a computer using a program such as Photoshop, is contrary to the basic principles of photojournalism. Photojournalists should also “resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities”. (Icevska) Taking this into consideration, it seem that Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson have the better journalistic approach.

Kertesz said “I never had to go very far for subjects; they were always on my doorstep. But I can’t analyze it. People ask me how I did it. I don’t know; the event dictated it.” (Icevska) This quote is a pretty accurate description of what photojournalism is.

While Smith and Salgado's photographs are excellent images, they are in fact edited so they do not show an accurate version of the truth. Also, some people might be shy around cameras and not give 100% of themselves and their emotions if they know they're in a photograph, whereas if it's a candid photograph and they don’t know they are in a photo, their true emotions are more likely to show.



Photos:

1. "Study of People and Shadows, Paris (Getty Museum) ." The Getty. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=62327 .

2. "Arm and Ventilator, New York (Getty Museum) ." The Getty. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2011. http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=62352 .

3. Henri Cartier - Bresson. (n.d.).Magnum Photos. Web. 11 Nov, 2011,

http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14T1LX&nm=Henri%20Cartier%20-%20Bresson.

4.  Henri Cartier - Bresson. (n.d.).Magnum Photos. Web. 11 Nov, 2011,

http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14T1LX&nm=Henri%20Cartier%20-%20Bresson .

5. "W. Eugene Smith." Magnum Photos. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R139C2T&nm=W.%20Eugene%20Smith .

6. "W. Eugene Smith." Magnum Photos. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R139C2T&nm=W.%20Eugene%20Smith .

7.  "Outcast: Displaced People of the World 3/17/2000." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/photo/salgado/3.html .

8. "Outcast: Displaced People of the World 3/17/2000." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/photo/salgado/3.html .

References

Gordana, Icevska. Photography: Shooting the Truth, Presentation Week 10

Gordana, Icevska. Photography: Shooting the Truth, Presentation Week 11