Shared Mind

Somthing About Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Kick in the Head" ~ Paris, France © 2012 Skip HuntUntil recently, I never really paid much attention to other famous photographer's work. There are a few I'd seen represented in museums through the years, and I've heard several referenced by other photographers in passing. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why I never bothered to study any of the "masters" but I think it's had something to do with an attempt to keep the images I make more my own personal expression than risking accidentally emulating another photographer's work. 

Because all artistic expression is influenced by everything experience to some degree, it's impossible to make absolutely pure individual expression. However, I made a choice to try to at least limit my photographic exposure to others using the same medium. This has caused me a little grief here and there due to the fact the normal path seems to find out what resonates for you and then follow in one particular style or the other. And, the evaluation of other's work seems to follow whichever discipline chosen as the measuring stick. 

Still, every now and then I'll make images that other photographers compare favorably to other famous photographer's work and though I always take it as a compliment, I seldom really know who the "master" is exactly. 

One of those "masters" is Henri Cartier-Bresson. I've heard his name through the years and knew of one of his famouns photos depicting someone jumping over a puddle in Paris I think. I'm embarrassed to say now that this is pretty much all I knew of his work or of him for that matter. 

Recently, I wanted a video interview with Henri Cartier-Bresson by Charlie Rose and was just amazed at how much his general philosophy about life and his work is almost identical to what I've come to believe as well.

As he spoke about it all being about intuition and geometry, etc. it sounded like I was listening to an older version of myself. And although judging from his work it's clear why he's so beloved by nearly all photographers, I could see similarities in his work approach to some of my own. 

I don't want to imply that my work is anywhere near the level that this great master achieved, but I wanted to share how wonderfully bizarre it felt to listen to someone express themselves in an inner voice that sounded like it was coming from my own mind as if it was my own inner voice. To feel that sort of interior connection with another human being is just astounding and ultimately mind-blowing. It further illustrated that amazing feeling you get when you make anything creative at all and another person feels the very same emotion that you had when you created it. It feels like you're witnessing proof that we all really are much more connected to each other than our individual illusions allow us to fully comprehend at times. 

It's been a couple of weeks since I watched that interview and it's still with me. It's caused me to rethink exactly what it is that I'm trying to do and why. And, I'm considering selling most of my "pro" gear and for awhile just sticking with the most basic of compacts for all of my photographic expression. Getting back to as little as possible between vision and subject so that intuition and emotion can flow freely.

Skip Hunt
Austin, Texas