I'll second that. BUT - If you are in or around NYC I would even more strongly urge you to go see the W. Eugene Smith "Jazz Loft" show at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center - 111 Amsterdam Ave.
I have to say that after seeing the two shows, my feeling about HCB, and Smith, has shift somewhat:
Without HCB there would not have been a Eugene Smith - or a Robert Frank, or a Bruce Davidson, or, or, or.
But that said, while comparing the two is like comparing the endlessly compared apples and oranges, if the pre-war HCB was an apple, and Smith was an orange, while HCB may have been the best apple the photo world has even known, Smith was the best orange. And HCB's work as an orange after WWII does not, on the whole, hold up to Smiths. All of which translates in English to - Smith was a far better photo journalist, story teller, and documentary photographer than HCB. (But yes, there are some staggering HCB images from the post-war period.)
The last 12 months has been the best for exhibitions in recent memory, at least for me.
Bresson at Moma
Smith at Public Library
Moriyama at Philadelphia Art Museum
Pioneers Of Color at Edwynn Houk Gallery
Street & Documentary Photography month in Philadelphia
I'll second that. BUT - If you are in or around NYC I would even more strongly urge you to go see the W. Eugene Smith "Jazz Loft" show at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center - 111 Amsterdam Ave.
I have to say that after seeing the two shows, my feeling about HCB, and Smith, has shift somewhat:
Without HCB there would not have been a Eugene Smith - or a Robert Frank, or a Bruce Davidson, or, or, or.
But that said, while comparing the two is like comparing the endlessly compared apples and oranges, if the pre-war HCB was an apple, and Smith was an orange, while HCB may have been the best apple the photo world has even known, Smith was the best orange. And HCB's work as an orange after WWII does not, on the whole, hold up to Smiths. All of which translates in English to - Smith was a far better photo journalist, story teller, and documentary photographer than HCB. (But yes, there are some staggering HCB images from the post-war period.)
(Heading for the storm cellar! )
Everyone here better own a copy of Dream Street: Eugene Smith's Pittsburgh Project !!!!
Comments
I'll second that. BUT - If you are in or around NYC I would even more strongly urge you to go see the W. Eugene Smith "Jazz Loft" show at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center - 111 Amsterdam Ave.
I have to say that after seeing the two shows, my feeling about HCB, and Smith, has shift somewhat:
Without HCB there would not have been a Eugene Smith - or a Robert Frank, or a Bruce Davidson, or, or, or.
But that said, while comparing the two is like comparing the endlessly compared apples and oranges, if the pre-war HCB was an apple, and Smith was an orange, while HCB may have been the best apple the photo world has even known, Smith was the best orange. And HCB's work as an orange after WWII does not, on the whole, hold up to Smiths. All of which translates in English to - Smith was a far better photo journalist, story teller, and documentary photographer than HCB. (But yes, there are some staggering HCB images from the post-war period.)
(Heading for the storm cellar! )
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
Who was the greater composer, Bach or Mozart?
I'm looking forward to seeing both exhibits in Chicago this summer.
Depends on your taste in music.
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
Bresson at Moma
Smith at Public Library
Moriyama at Philadelphia Art Museum
Pioneers Of Color at Edwynn Houk Gallery
Street & Documentary Photography month in Philadelphia
Everyone here better own a copy of Dream Street: Eugene Smith's Pittsburgh Project !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhZkD7W85hM
Amen! And that book really makes my case.
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed