What To Read....The Modern Century

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1928-2004) His work in the early 1930's helped emerge the creative potential of Modern photography. His work expands over twenty- five years, an accomplished painter who then discovered the Leica camera, which changed his entire life, and began a career as a photographer, whose   uncanny ability to capture life on the run made his work synonymous with “the decisive moment”. Cartier-Bresson  had an extraordinary life, he was taken as war prisoner during 1940's which he escaped on his third attempt in 1943, and the joined a underground organization to assist prisoners and escapees. He then went on to photographic reportage, capturing events such as Stalin’s death and the Soviet Union and the liberation of Paris. During World War 2 Cartier Bresson Co-founded the Magnum Photo Agency, which benefitted photojournalists to reach a wider audience through magazines such as LIFE while retaining control over there work.  Cartier-Bresson, images are attractive, dramatic, sombre, lively and comical. He had a photographic eye "which could grasp the social sense of any circumstance and distill it into an image made him one of the most accomplished illustrators of the twentieth century.” In the book Cartier-Bresson explains his approach to photography; "For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression."

 

References: Clement, Cheroux. "Henri Cartier-Bresson (new Horizons)." ( Publisher: Thames& Hudson, 24 Nov 2008)

Dominis the Great

John Dominis was born June 27, 1921 Los Angeles, attending the University of Southern California. After graduating he became a freelance photographer, during the 1950’s he became a photojournalist for Life Magazine and covered the Korean and Vietnam War. John Dominis is a photographer who has seen it all, he has witnessed historical events such as John F Kennedy giving a speech at the berlin wall, to then hanging out with movies stars like Steve McQueen and frank Sinatra, he spent three months trailing Sinatra to witness him in his natural element, among swank drunk stars. Dominis captured the most intimate pictures of his subject, which is endearing to see. Looking at his work, one can see that all the emotions of the subjects are natural and are not staged. Dominis has photographed everything to big cats, big stars and big dinners. Dominis has captured the most iconic moments of our time. Majority of people have probably seen his work but are unaware of the man behind the lens, which is more the reason to look at his work. 

This is one of the most iconic moments  in sport history. Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave a Black Power Salute, 16 October 1968. This was in the amidst of the American Civil Movement. As the national anthem began to play both men raised one gloved hand, and shaped it into a fist, the fist represented  the unity of their movement. Because of their defiant act, they were stripped of there olympic medals and furthermore ostracised from the sport and political community. "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight."

 Dominis hanging around with Steve Mcqueen and his wife   Neile,Hollywood,1963. “That’s my technique with people. I’m sort of a fly on the wall. You try not to interfere, hang around, hope that they don’t even notice you, and if they do, they don’t care.” When photographing people Dominis stalks them, he will sit and wait for the right shot, which probably helped him when photographing big cats. Patiences  really is a virtue, which Dominis has honed as a skill. 

References: John, Loengard, Gordon Parks, Life Magazine . "The Great Life Photographers" (Published: Thames and Hudson 30/11/2009) ( pp106)