Photographic inspiration and action.

First, the inspiration.

Always on the search for an interesting photography exhibit, I went to the International Center of Photography (ICP), a bit of a pilgrimage to a photography museum and school. Their email newsletters always bring a wistful look to my eye if I have not picked up my camera in the last couple of days, and the lists of new classes and exhibits always bring new project ideas.

For that reason, visiting their current (until April 29) exhibit of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Scrapbook was the first things I looked forward to when I learned I would be going to NYC. Cartier-Bresson’s personal scrapbook, consisting of over 300 personal prints dating back to 1932 that he started gluing into a scrapbook in 1946, forms a great look into his process and development in the early part of his life.

I will not rehash Cartier-Bresson’s style, impact on photography or the lists of platitudes he has received in his life (I will leave that to the New York Times’ and Slate’s reviews of the exhibit), but listening to a short video of his voice expanding on his concepts, values and ideas was perhaps the highlight of the visit. Selected snippets (longer list of quotes):

• “Life is once, forever.”
• “Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important.”
• “Photography is nothing–it’s life that interests me.”
• “Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing a meditation.”
• Photography is an “instant sketch.”
• Many photographs that are interesting to look at, “photographs you can look at over and over, not many.”
• “Be yourself but forget yourself.”

The additional exhibit of Martin Munkasci is similarly impressive. Munkasci’s most famous image, three boys in the surf at Lake Tanganyika, is known to have made a strong impression on Cartier-Bresson early in his life. Among Cartier-Bresson’s many quotes about the picture is that upon seeing the photograph, said:

“I couldn’t believe such a thing could be caught with the camera. I said, ‘Damn it,’ took my camera and went out into the street.

I can fairly say Cartier-Bresson’s work had the same impact on my own state of mind, although the results are *slightly* less impressive (heavy sarcasm).

Now, the action.

New photo gallery posted, “In a New York Minute”.

Cartier-Bresson or Munkasci it is not, but that is not the intention. Use the world and other’s interpretations for your inspiration, but find your own voice, feel comfortable in your skin and be proud of your own work.

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