Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/04/01

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Cartier-Bresson
From: Edi Weitz <weitz@math.uni-hannover.de>
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 18:22:02 +0200

Hi!

To add something to the HCB discussion: He started using screwmount Leicas
and than switched to an M3. Later he also used an M6. As some other persons
on this list already mentioned he almost exclusively used 50mm lenses,
occasionally accompanied by 35mm oder 90mm lenses. [E.g., in his book with
portraits, ALL pictures are taken with 50mm lenses.] According to an
interview he gave some years ago he "never" used 135mm or longer lenses.
Also, as most of you will know, he never used flashlight. 

Leica officials of course are very proud of him. [What better advertisement
can you have then some of the best photographers of the world using your
cameras?] He got several gifts from them including a Leica M with his name
engraved. If my memory serves me right the serial number was 2000000. From
what I've read I understand that he really uses that one.

It is true that HCB gave up professional photography about twenty years ago
but he still takes pictures with his Leicas. I recently saw a photo of him
that was taken in 1994. In a French TV documentary he said that earlier he
always had one or two cameras around his neck while he now carries them in
his rucksack. 

BTW, a French author called Montier just wrote a seemingly very good book
about Cartier-Bresson including many so far unpublished pictures. The title
is "L'art sans art" and it is published by Flammarion. As far as I know an
English edition will appear around June 1996. (Has anyone heard about a
German translation?)

Bye, Edi.





Replies: Reply from Eric Welch <ewelch@gp.magick.net> (Re: Cartier-Bresson)