Week 11: Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

Photographs are known to capture a moment, and although photos may look the same, many photographers have a different way of achieving that moment. This can be depicted as the photographic style of the photographer. While observing the works of Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado one can see the two different approaches to photography.


Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson used aerial views, and near and far contrast within their photography. Their approach made them appear as a fly on the wall in their photos. They wanted to appear "invisible" while capturing the image to preserve the character and life, within the photo. This idea makes the moment within the photo real and untouched. The works of Kertesz was described by J. Paul Getty Museum’s Photography Curator, Weston Naef, as "a little like Christopher Columbus, who discovered a new world that, in the end, was named for someone else." (S K Josefburg,1998).

Kerstez focus evolved as did his photography; he begun capturing emotions of people, then later moved on to city scenery, and life. Kertesz style of photography is considered a foundation for photojournalist. Henri Cartier-Bresson acknowledges Kertesz legendary style “Whatever we have done, Kertész did first.”as a good example to express the importance of Kertész in photography. (S K Josefburg, 1998).

Like Kertesz, Henri Cartier- Bresson used his camera to "preserve life in act of living (Fame). Cartier- Bresson style was not focused on art and abstract, but of capturing the essence and personality with the moment. Cartier-Bresson defines his style as ‘the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression"(Fame). The goal of Andre Kertesz and Cartier was to reflect the images of everyday life in the simplest form possible. In an instantaneous exposure they would capture human detail, as well as the character of life and reality.


Andre Kertsez

 "Ballet'' New York", 1938

Henri Cartier- Bresson

 " The Quai St Bernard", 1932

Smith and Salgado's photography style included an interactive connection with their subjects. They would edit and enhance their images to elaborate on the expression they wished to portray. Smith and Salgado did not worry about being invisible when capturing an image. They would envision the photo, and enhance it with lighting, focus and other objects to achieve its perfection. The one thing these four photographers had in common was the elaborate time they would take to develop and capture the perfect moment. Andre and Henri would spend months to years waiting to capture the perfect bird landing. While Smith and Salgado would spend days to make sure they emphasized the perfect expression within an image. All four made sure what they envisioned was portrayed in their photos.



Sebastiao Salgado

"Gourma-Rharous Mali",1985

Eugene Smith

"Awaiting survivors of the Andrea Doria", 1956

What’s the better journalistic approach?

It really is hard to choose which journalistic approach is best.. They all have their pros and cons. Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson appear to have a better approach. Kertsez and Cartier- Bresson photographs depict an action, setting, or situation that will only occur once. It is trickier to capture something that is only available for a short period of time. These photographs are original; nothing is staged or propped out, adjusted, or distorted from actual reality. There is no biased approach or sentiment in the background, the photograph portrays the location, position, and condition precisely as if you were there yourself. Most of the photographs taken by Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson were improvised; the subjects in the pictures didn’t pose or force their movements, like Smith and Salgado photographs. Yes, Salgado and Smith attempted to show the audience more feeling and dramatization, but sometimes this is exaggerated and interpreted the wrong way. The “invisible” and “in the moment” style of documentary photography would be the better method.


By:  Fernando Elizondo, Darren Messam, , and Yasiel Sambra
  
Work Cited

Henri Cartier-Bresson. Web. 17 July 2011. Fame. http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/bresson.htm

"Andre Kertesz". SK Josefburg Studios. Web. 17 July 2011. http://www.urban-photography-art.com/andre-kertesz.html

Class Notes Week 10: https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Photo Credit

Andre Kertsez 
http://www.higherpictures.com/ImageViewer.aspx?id=384


Henri Cartier-Bresson
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Catalogue/Henri-Cartier-Bresson/1932/FRANCE-1932-NN145909.html


Sebastiao Selgado 
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/S/salgado/salgado_mali_full.html


Eugene Smith
http://www.oocities.org/minoltaphotographyw/williameugenesmith02.html

Press Photography vs. Art Photography

Press photography is commonly used to freeze a moment in time captured in the image. It is often used in news, magazines, papers, and websites, to record life stories and events. The goal is to use a photograph to portray the specific emotion that one should feel when viewing the image. It should have the ability to capture the event time after time with every glance.

Art photography "Photography that is done as a fine art -- that is, done to express the artist's perceptions and emotions and to share them with others". Art photography uses certain images or altered images to display the feeling of the photographer. Unlike press photography where the image is used to display the emotion within the event, it does not necessarily have to be feeling of the photographer. 

Art Photography

Through the Peephole Photography
By: Brunner Hill-Yard
http://artphotographytips.com/2008/04/what’s-in-your-junk-drawer-artistic-photos-through-the-peephole/

Sports Letter Art Photography "O"
By: Beccari
http://letterphotos.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/o28nored.jpg

Press Photography

By Joerg Colberg
Feb 13, 2004Conscientious: World Press 2003
http://jmcolberg.com/weblog/2004/02/world_press_photo_2003/

This photo shows an Iraq POW consoling his son during a time of hardship and distress. The photo is able to capture the moment of loneliness, comfort, and uncertainty.  The fact that the image was taken thorough bob-wires can show separation at the time of the event. The land is not vegetated and dry, distinguishing the struggle and poverty that surrounds. 

Reuters Andrew
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/04/protests_at_the_g20_summit.html

"A demonstrator throws a computer screen at the windows of a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, near the Bank of England in London April 1, 2009. Thousands of demonstrators converged on London's financial district on Wednesday, chanting "abolish money" and "storm the banks" in a heavily policed protest to coincide with the the G20 summit of world leaders." This image depicts the anger and frustration that was evident at the event. The moment was one that displayed the controversy during the event, it is one that you can see was captured by many photographers.



The difference between art photography and press photographer is that art photography is used to express the feeling of the artist. It does not have to depict an event or moment, it just has to be able to convey a message from the artist. This type of art is allowed to be altered, and does not have to religiously follow the guidelines set forth for photojournalist. The images are allowed to be altered and distorted to the preference of the artist.

 Press photography has to make sure that the truth is being displayed to capture the moment. It must have an accurate time line and present a fair representation of the moment.  The image viewed years from now, should have the same meaning and story. Press photography does not have much to do with the photographers feeling, but the feeling at the event. This type of art needs to follow more guidelines, for example the journalist ethics code protects art from being altered, unless it is for quality and clarity of the image.

I believe that press photography should not be altered, if the image has to be altered it is clearly not displaying the event at hand. Altered press photography would not be able to tell the truth within a moment. If one alters pictures today, how would we understand or remember or past in the future. If one feels that a photo needs to be altered for other purposes than quality, then they should re-take the image to capture the moment they would like to preserve.
All the photographs viewed in this blog can be used to erected emotion. Whether it is feeling of the photographer or the event, the image has meaning. There is a reason for every image that is taken, despite the area that it used in. Both types of photos have a purpose and can be viewed as art.


Work Cited

http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm

https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/press_photographer_job_description.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-art_photography