DB 11 - Presentation Week 11: Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

Everything is a subject. Every subject has a rhythm. To feel it is the raison detre. The photograph is a fixed moment of such a raison detre, which lives on in itself. - Andre Kertesz

Behind the Gare Saint Lazare, 1932

To photograph is to hold one's breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It's at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Behind the Gare St. Lazare (1932)
Photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson

What are the main differences and similarities?

The difference between the two different types of photographers is that Andre Kertesz & Henri Cartier are both "invisible" while taking photos whereas Eugene Smith & Sebastiao Salgado are not. Being visible changes the meaning of the photo as it does not portray true feelings, emotions, gestures, of the person being photographed. Kertesz & Cartier-Bresson restrict themselves from manipulating their photos, whereas Smith & Salgado do not. They take their photos in the darkroom instead during the post production process to change the lightening, quality, etc. to bring out the untruthful meaning they believe in. A story which they form from their own point of view, where as Smith & Cartier-Bresson portray the true story and leave the picture as it is.

The similarities between all photographers is that they wanted to portray a story in all of their photos. Wether it was portraying an truthful story or not, they had a meaning in every photo they took. They did not have any limits as to what they wanted to photograph, wether it was life, or events that occurred around them. Their names became popular in the photojournalism, and as a result, their all successful.

I've never made any picture, good or bad, without paying for it in emotional turmoil. - Eugene Smith

The Walk to Paradise Garden Photo by Eugene Smith

It’s not the photographer who makes the picture, but the person being photographed. - Sebastiao Salgado

Firefigters at Work
Photo by Sebastiao Salgado

What’s the better journalistic approach?

Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson definitely have a better journalistic approach. Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson's main goal was to capture photos of reality and send a meaningful and honest message along with their photographs. They were both invisible while taking photos to capture truthful life experiences of people. As a result, they showed no interaction with the audience and believed in being as quite as possible when capturing photographic shots. The society wants to know the truth, and they only way to find out the truth is if the photographer documents reality which will not be altered before publishing. Photojournalists have to play an important role, so they must follow the code of ethics of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). Photo manipulation is stritctly prohibited and unethical during the post production process using a dark room or Photoshop (digital editing program) because altering photos can portray a complete different meaning of the photo and the viewers thoughts.

Sources:
Andre Kertesz's Quote
Henri Cartier-Bresson's Quote
Eugene Smith's Quote
Sebastiao Salgado's Quote
Week 10 Course Slides - Capturing the moment: Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson
Week 11 - Presenting the moment: Eugene Smith and Sebastiao Salgado