Freitag, 28. September 2007

Im Vorübergehen / En passant / Passing by

Robert Doisneau


"The photographer must be absorbent like a blotter, allow himself to be permeated by the poetic moment …
His technic should be like an animal function […] he should act automatically."

"Ein Photograph muss saugfähig sein wie Löschpapier, so dass er vom poetischen Augenblick völlig durchdrungen wird …
Seine Technik sollte wie ein instinktives Verhalten sein […] er sollte automatisch handeln."
ROBERT DOISNEAU

Robert, Doisneau, Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville


Dieses Foto ist nicht nur eines seiner bekanntesten, es zeigt auch, dass DOISNEAU gerne als Flaneur, als Straßenfotograf vor allem in Paris unterwegs war.
Von den zig tausenden Fotos, die DOISNEAU im Laufe seines Lebens aufnahm, waren nach seiner Meinung nur 300 gut.
Wenn er jedes von diesen Fotos in einer 1/100 einer Sekunde aufgenommen hat, hieße das, so DOISNEAU, "dass er in nur 3 Sekunden die erfolgreiche Arbeit eines 50 jährigen Berufsleben erledigt habe".

ROBERT DOISNEAU
starb 1994.


zur Frage "gestellter" (staged) Straßenfotografie ein Nachtrag von Lars K. Christensen:
In 1988 Doisneau was sued by a couple who claimed to be the persons kissing in ”The kiss” and who wanted royalties. A court decided that their claim was false. However, the publicity made another couple show up – which were in fact those on the picture. In order to avoid paying them a huge royalty, Doisneau had to produce proof that they had in fact been paid to model when the photo was taken – thus allso admitting that it was staged.
In fact, Doisneau admitted that most of his photos of couples kissing taken during the 50’s was staged. He said that he did that, because he feared juridical problems if he had photographed “real” situations. But he also defended himself by stating, that he had carefully observed real lovers, before staging the scenes. So I guess you are right, that he was fond of kissing ;-)
BTW: I've read this story in H-M Koetzle: "Photo Icons", Taschen 2005.

Thanks Lars!

3 Kommentare:

  1. Well, with all due respect "Le Baiser" might not be the best illustration to your point, since it is in fact a staged photo.
    Which, of course, doesn't mean that Doisneau was not a great artist.

    AntwortenLöschen
  2. Lars,

    thanks for your clearing.
    In fact, I didn't know this.
    But, if it's really a staged photo, one can say, it's well done, because it looks like a real candid shot.
    By the way, I found some more kissing couples in his work. Maybe he liked the idea of kissing someone?

    AntwortenLöschen
  3. In 1988 Doisneau was sued by a couple who claimed to be the persons kissing in ”The kiss” and who wanted royalties. A court decided that their claim was false. However, the publicity made another couple show up – which were in fact those on the picture. In order to avoid paying them a huge royalty, Doisneau had to produce proof that they had in fact been paid to model when the photo was taken – thus allso admitting that it was staged.
    In fact, Doisneau admitted that most of his photos of couples kissing taken during the 50’s was staged. He said that he did that, because he feared juridical problems if he had photographed “real” situations. But he also defended himself by stating, that he had carefully observed real lovers, before staging the scenes. So I guess you are right, that he was fond of kissing ;-)
    BTW: I've read this story in H-M Koetzle: "Photo Icons", Taschen 2005.

    AntwortenLöschen