The Genius of Photography- Part 3 ,,Right Time, Right Place"

1) What is described as “One of the most familiar concepts in photography”?

Henri Cartier Bresson in 1933 took an image of a man jumping into the unknown. He captured a fraction of the second in the right place and in the right time. Since that photograph a decisive moment is one of the most recognisable concept in photography.

2) Should you trust a photograph? (1.38m G3)

“We thought that was the world, now we realised that there was lot of missed in that. Trusting the photography that was probably a huge mistake from the beginning”

Philosopher Arthur C.Danto

 3) What was revolutionary about the Leica in 1925?

Leica launched in Germany in 1925. It was revolutionary camera as it was compact and quite, at that time the latest lens technology which gave birth to the whole new style of instant photography. It was also light weight and easy to carry.  It had a viewfinder placed in the left side of the camera which allowed the left eye to look around.

4) What did George Bernard Shaw say about all the paintings of Christ?

“I would exchange every painting of Christ for one snapshot”. Photography is about capturing the reality and that is evidence of truth.

5) Why were Tony Vaccaros negatives destroyed by the army censors?

Tony Vaccaros was a GI soldier and photographer on a daily basis. 10 rolls of the negatives were destroyed because they contained images of dead GI’s, a decisive moment that the world wasn’t yet ready to accept.

 

6) Who was Henryk Ross and what was his job?

Henryk Ross was a polish Jew. He was a photographer who kept the unique record of what happened in the Ghetto in Lodz. Amongst his many duties as official Ghetto photographer Ross had to document a production of goods for inhabitants of Lodz to make money. He produced the identity cards pictures, worked for a graphic department and had a responsibility for promoting the goods which were in the Ghetto.

7) Which show was a “sticking plaster for the wounds of the war”, how many people saw it and what “cliché” did it end on?

“The family of man” was an exhibition which included over 500 photographs from 273 photographers. The first show was opened to the public in New York in 1955 and after toured the world showing to over 9 million  visitors. The collection ended with Eugene Smiths photograph of his own children walking in his own garden out into the light. The cliché  about beginning of sentimental journey through life.

8) Why did Joel Meyerowitz photograph ground zero in colour?

Joel Meyerowitz photographed ground zero in colour because he was certain  that black & white photographs would emphasise this sad event and would keep New York in deep tragedy. There is a tragic element to B&W photography in that case not war but the collapse of structure. Colour photographs give hope and strength to face misfortune.