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The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers
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Product Description
One of the leading lights in photography of the twentieth century, Henri Cartier-Bresson is also a shrewd observer and critic. His writings on photography and photographers, which have appeared sporadically over the past forty-five years, are gathered here for the first time. Several have never before appeared in English.
The Mind's Eye features Cartier-Bresson's famous text on "the decisive moment" as well as his observations on Moscow, Cuba, and China during turbulent times, which ring with the same immediacy and visual intensity that he brings to his photography.
Cartier-Bresson remains as direct and insightful as ever in his writings. His commentary on photographer friends he has known-including Robert Capa, André Kertész, Ernst Haas, and Sarah Moon-reveal the impassioned and compassionate vision for which Cartier-Bresson is beloved.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #154269 in Books
- Published on: 1999-09-01
- Released on: 2005-06-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 112 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Supremely accomplished and influential French photographer Cartier-Bresson guided the evolution of the photographic medium while creating an enormous body of work. His photographs of people, famous and obscure, always contain a strong psychological component deriving from formally perfect compositions and a temporal ambivalence that characterizes only the most powerful static images. This slight book contains short essays by Cartier-Bresson along with some less interesting aesthetic epigrams and tributes to fellow artists. This is the first published collection of his writings, though large chunks are taken from books he published in the 1950s and 1960s. And while there's not a great deal of his writings to be collected, what's here is pithy and laconic without being sententious. His artistic philosophy is well captured by his landmark 1952 essay "The Decisive Moment," contained here, probably the most poetically instructive evocation of the field photographer's art yet written. This is a useful and important title from one of the defining sets of eyes in the cumulative visual record of the 20th century. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.DDouglas F. Smith, Oakland P.L., CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Henri Cartier-Bresson studied painting and literature until 1930, when he began his work in photography. His other books include The Decisive Moment and The Drawings of Henri Cartier-Bresson. He lives in Paris.
Customer Reviews
An Apologia For Intuition
Yes, this is a small book, and, possibly too much of it is taken up in verbal bouquets tossed to old friends, tourist information about side-trips to various countries, and practical advice to would-be photojournalists.
But those asides aren't the guts of this wonderful book. The important message from this man, who without question was the most influential photographer of the twentieth century, is that if you want to make good photographs you need to look, and you need to internalize a kind of respect for subject, context and geometry that allows you to SEE when you look, without resorting to arbitrary crutches like the "rule of thirds."
Probably the most important words in the book are these: "To take photographs means to recognize -- simultaneously and within a fraction of a second -- both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning."
That's what the book is really about. Anyone who hopes to become a competent photographer needs to internalize that message.
Good Read
Most photographers would find this a nice book to add to their collection.
It's HCB!
Very interesting read. I would say a must have for fans of photojournalism and photography in general.
Highly recommended.
