<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif" border="0" alt="" > Thanks. And I shall be surfing the internet looking for prints that I can frame. Prints that cost less than $5,000, I hope!
HCB originals are lots less expensive than those of many other famous photographers because he made no attempt to limit the number of prints made from his negatives. He used a pro lab and didn't actually print himself. In the 70s it was still possible to order any of his images from the lab for < $100. So many of the famous images are not scarce at all. That said, they have increased a lot in value. I bought three of them 20 years ago for about $800 apeace. I think they are worth about $4-5k today, but I'm not really sure.
I'm not sure I would buy on the internet. Traditionally the best place to buy fine art photographs is at the Sothebys and Christies. You can see their auction schedules online and order the catalogues for their sales. They both have semianual sales in the the spring and fall. The catalogues are well worth buying, even if you aren't remotely interested in bidding. They are ususally wonderful photograph books all buy themselves. You can subscribe to the Christies photograph catalogues for NYC sales (at least 3 a year) for < $100. That's 3 pretty nice books of photographs by great photographers for $94, which is pretty reasonable. I've learned a lot by looking at these catalogues; they are sort of market driven anthologies.
You can also use the Christies and Sothebeys web sites to find you the final prices of items at previous auctions. This will help you figure out their current values.
But I thiought a little more about collecting HCB. If you love his work and want to collect it, I think the first thing you should consider buying is a copy of The Decisive Momemt". This book has almost all the most famous HCB images. (Thoush I think the images in In India are at least as great.) I found that it was much better to look at the photographs in this book and in In India than in one of the anthology books. Ebay, bibliofind and alibris each found a few of these. It may be that only first editions were ever published; that's all I found. That would account for how rare and expensive this book is. The book was published in English and in French simultainously; I think both versions are equally valuable. Buy the English unless you can read French, since the little essay in the beginning is very interesting (if turgid.) The prices range from just under $500 to about $2000. Be aware that for rare books like this the dust jacket makes all the difference. Without the dust jacket, this book is worth < $500. With the dust jacket, more like $1500 - $2000 depending on the condition of the book. If you buy right (try your hand a few times on ebay to get a sense of the real value), I think that the book will appreciate with or without the dust jacket. It won't matter, really, you'll love having this.
This is a good online find, but again, a pale shadow of looking at one of the good books. I have ordered HSB: Photographer and will review when I get it.
Photography as political statement
This one is titled "Moscow school children, 1954". How is this for a powerful political statement? Because it is a photograph of a room full of children, it is *true* and not a direct statement. But how much clearer does the point have to be? Notice how the choice of DOF and focus is just perfect to make the point that the inate individuality of the children is being surpressed. Notice how the composition and choice of contrast reduces distraction and focues attention on the children.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Photographer
As promised, I picked this up. I wasn't exaclty right; it isn't exactly in print. But it is easy to find and inexpensive. I payed $45 a brand new copy, still in shrink wrap. Amazon -> new&used has a boatload of them.
This is a beautiful collection of HCB work. The quality of reproduction and choice of size and layout are fine. It is a pleasure to look at the photographs in this book, including the riverside picnic from Sid's original post. The range of selection is really excellent, there are some that I didn't know and that represent expansions of HCB's style into surprising directions. There are funny pictures, landscapes, political statements as well the more well known street scenes, portraits, and photojournalism.
I was disappointed that some of my favorites are missing, most notably the Ghandi funeral pictures I posted here. But "In India" is inexpensive.
So here is my recommendation:
Economy class: either In India or HCB: Photographer
Business class: both In India & HCB: Photographer
First class: The Decisive Moment, In India, HCB: Photogrpher
Andy, I have all these books, but I still stand by my recommendations above. At the very least, get In India if you don't already have it. It's very cheap (last I looked) and the images are great, different, historically important, and under represented in the collections.
Will these be appearing in our book reviews soon? I'm always on the lookout for good books (preferentially with good photos, not just how-to books) to add to my shelves.
Man, just go back and read through the threads. You shouldn't need anyone to tell you to buy HCB books. Which ones? I did a pretty careful comparison of what was available and Andy has something different that I suggested, but loves it. It's hard to go wrong, really. If you don't already have at least one HCB book, you're really missing out on one of the greatest photographers of all time.
Yes, I've read this thread and got me some books already. That was my way of saying: we have a "books" link now! It's not like it's a bunch of work like a tute. Just a link to a thumbnail, and heck, link it back to this thread. Just help the book list grow is all I'm sayin'.
Will these be appearing in our book reviews soon? I'm always on the lookout for good books (preferentially with good photos, not just how-to books) to add to my shelves.
Sure! But please be sure to annoy me in a week if I haven't done it. Thanks Doc!
Yes, I've read this thread and got me some books already. That was my way of saying: we have a "books" link now! It's not like it's a bunch of work like a tute. Just a link to a thumbnail, and heck, link it back to this thread. Just help the book list grow is all I'm sayin'.
The posts I wrote to this thread were a lot of work and sadly many of the image links are now broken. This thread is something I was proud of once and it would be a lot of work to restore now, I think.
The posts I wrote to this thread were a lot of work and sadly many of the image links are now broken. This thread is something I was proud of once and it would be a lot of work to restore now, I think.
Rutt, you can still be proud of this post, go out and find the pics again elsewhere, nearly every HCB image is online, somewhere... I'll edit for you if you find the links...
Ok, that link on the first page isn't working for me, but from the HCB work that I am familiar with, there are some that amaze and some that personally I'm not so fond of.
For instance...The man jumping over the puddle. Its one of those "Moment" pictures that you could never replicate. The man being slightly blurred by motion, with everything else in the image being frozen so still really makes the shot IMO. The contrast between the movement and the still is wonderful. Also there is a picture of a dancer on the building in the left which adds a little something else to it I think.
His portraits of Coco Chanel and Henri Matisse I also love. He used more than just their face to tell you about them. Matisse sits in his studio with birds and open birdcages roaming around everywhere. I mean, to me, and from what I have known about Matisse, it fits so well because his mind was like a bird in a cage he set free when he painted. The only thing I can think of describe my point here is Andy's tis on street photography when he talks about "People in Context".
The man used the camera like his eyes, not a barrier between him and the world, but like a link between the world and his mind. Sometimes I feel like I am standing right there when I see his photos. Like it isn't a photo. Thats what I love about his work.
Comments
I'm not sure I would buy on the internet. Traditionally the best place to buy fine art photographs is at the Sothebys and Christies. You can see their auction schedules online and order the catalogues for their sales. They both have semianual sales in the the spring and fall. The catalogues are well worth buying, even if you aren't remotely interested in bidding. They are ususally wonderful photograph books all buy themselves. You can subscribe to the Christies photograph catalogues for NYC sales (at least 3 a year) for < $100. That's 3 pretty nice books of photographs by great photographers for $94, which is pretty reasonable. I've learned a lot by looking at these catalogues; they are sort of market driven anthologies.
You can also use the Christies and Sothebeys web sites to find you the final prices of items at previous auctions. This will help you figure out their current values.
But I thiought a little more about collecting HCB. If you love his work and want to collect it, I think the first thing you should consider buying is a copy of The Decisive Momemt". This book has almost all the most famous HCB images. (Thoush I think the images in In India are at least as great.) I found that it was much better to look at the photographs in this book and in In India than in one of the anthology books. Ebay, bibliofind and alibris each found a few of these. It may be that only first editions were ever published; that's all I found. That would account for how rare and expensive this book is. The book was published in English and in French simultainously; I think both versions are equally valuable. Buy the English unless you can read French, since the little essay in the beginning is very interesting (if turgid.) The prices range from just under $500 to about $2000. Be aware that for rare books like this the dust jacket makes all the difference. Without the dust jacket, this book is worth < $500. With the dust jacket, more like $1500 - $2000 depending on the condition of the book. If you buy right (try your hand a few times on ebay to get a sense of the real value), I think that the book will appreciate with or without the dust jacket. It won't matter, really, you'll love having this.
A few of HCB that floored me today...
Lisboa, 1955
France, 1976
And this incredible self-portrait from 5 years ago...
Find them and more here...
http://www.peterfetterman.com/artists/cb/cb_sm.html
This is a good online find, but again, a pale shadow of looking at one of the good books. I have ordered HSB: Photographer and will review when I get it.
This one is titled "Moscow school children, 1954". How is this for a powerful political statement? Because it is a photograph of a room full of children, it is *true* and not a direct statement. But how much clearer does the point have to be? Notice how the choice of DOF and focus is just perfect to make the point that the inate individuality of the children is being surpressed. Notice how the composition and choice of contrast reduces distraction and focues attention on the children.
As promised, I picked this up. I wasn't exaclty right; it isn't exactly in print. But it is easy to find and inexpensive. I payed $45 a brand new copy, still in shrink wrap. Amazon -> new&used has a boatload of them.
This is a beautiful collection of HCB work. The quality of reproduction and choice of size and layout are fine. It is a pleasure to look at the photographs in this book, including the riverside picnic from Sid's original post. The range of selection is really excellent, there are some that I didn't know and that represent expansions of HCB's style into surprising directions. There are funny pictures, landscapes, political statements as well the more well known street scenes, portraits, and photojournalism.
I was disappointed that some of my favorites are missing, most notably the Ghandi funeral pictures I posted here. But "In India" is inexpensive.
So here is my recommendation:
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I recently got this as a gift
And of course, the "brick"
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
What a coincidence, I just posted this
Andy, I have all these books, but I still stand by my recommendations above. At the very least, get In India if you don't already have it. It's very cheap (last I looked) and the images are great, different, historically important, and under represented in the collections.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Sure! But please be sure to annoy me in a week if I haven't done it. Thanks Doc!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
The posts I wrote to this thread were a lot of work and sadly many of the image links are now broken. This thread is something I was proud of once and it would be a lot of work to restore now, I think.
Rutt, you can still be proud of this post, go out and find the pics again elsewhere, nearly every HCB image is online, somewhere... I'll edit for you if you find the links...
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
For instance...The man jumping over the puddle. Its one of those "Moment" pictures that you could never replicate. The man being slightly blurred by motion, with everything else in the image being frozen so still really makes the shot IMO. The contrast between the movement and the still is wonderful. Also there is a picture of a dancer on the building in the left which adds a little something else to it I think.
His portraits of Coco Chanel and Henri Matisse I also love. He used more than just their face to tell you about them. Matisse sits in his studio with birds and open birdcages roaming around everywhere. I mean, to me, and from what I have known about Matisse, it fits so well because his mind was like a bird in a cage he set free when he painted. The only thing I can think of describe my point here is Andy's tis on street photography when he talks about "People in Context".
The man used the camera like his eyes, not a barrier between him and the world, but like a link between the world and his mind. Sometimes I feel like I am standing right there when I see his photos. Like it isn't a photo. Thats what I love about his work.
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life...Picasso
This web site is a great resource for CB photos - also his books and which contain which photos. http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/TreePf_MAG.aspx?Stat=Photographers_Portfolio&E=29YL53IQ1W7
CB was one of the founders of magnum photos. They own rights to many of his pictures.
Virginia
P.S.
Sorry if I have repeated what someone else has posted. I had just a few moments left at the computer and did a quick scan to check.
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know." Diane Arbus
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