Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/08/10

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Subject: [Leica] Eugene Smiths problems at life
From: "Duane Birkey" <duanebirkey@andinanet.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 13:45:59 -0500

I read several books on Gene's life this summer... and I would summarize his
problems at Life being most related to the fact that he either didn't
produce work, or wouldn't shoot...   Or he was obsessive/compulsive and
would spend months chasing photos for things when Life wanted one basic
photo......   The amount of luggage he traveled with is beyond
comprehension....

More importantly perhaps is the fact he never met a deadline....   This
wasn't just at Life but also in his other short-lived magazine/book
projects.....

Actually I was surprised by the number of times Life took Gene back... And
how often in turn Gene disappointed them...

I found one book that showed many of his contact sheets....  He was
certainly a genius when he was on though....

Duane

HCJB World Radio
Quito Ecuador
Duane's Photographs of Ecuador
http://ecuadorphotos.tripod.com



**********************************************************
B.D. wrote...

But Smith's problem at Life at less to do with fights over film format and
far more to do with fights over the editing and use of his work - Smith felt
that the photographer should have control over how his photos were used, and
what words were used with them, while the editors of Life felt that the
photographer was at best a craftsman supplying a product which the magazine
would then shape as it saw fit - and that is probably the attitude of most
editors today - at best.


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