A compilation that doesn't live up to expectations

books:

	• The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers Aperture, 1999 - 112 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A compilation that doesn't live up to expectations

The Mind's Eye: Writing on Photography and Photographers is a mildly interesting compilation of writings by Henri Cartier-Bresson. It's not really what I expected: the book is filled with short written pieces that do not seem to have been intended for publication. For the most part, it is a lot of musing and reads almost like a journal. Some of it is quite nice, such as Cartier-Bresson's discussion of photography and its formal elements. I'm not much of a photographer, but I find his thoughts on composition and process to be enlightening and helpful.

Utility is not the main focus of the book though, and it jumps from discussion of photography to Cartier-Bresson's world travels. The only striking travel entry is a story about Cuba, in which he meets Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. In comparison, the tales of Moscow and China are uneventful and do not carry the flash of historical insight that illuminates "Cuba."

The final section of The Mind's Eye is the least engaging: a few pages about several of Cartier-Bresson's famous photographer and artist friends. The content is thin throughout. Although he writes about unusual, talented individuals, none of the writing is compelling and instead feels a little drawn out. Cartier-Bresson puts it best in his words on Giacometti: "But enough: he's my friend."

I was disappointed that there is no discussion of Henri Cartier-Bresson's own work. I was hoping to read his thoughts on his photographs and maybe a little about his life. The closest this book gets to Cartier-Bresso'ns work is a handful of his photographs scattered throughout. It's unfair to say that there is something faulty with a person's thoughts, but as for the book itself, it simply isn't what it appears to be.

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It's HCB!

Very interesting read. I would say a must have for fans of photojournalism and photography in general.
Highly recommended.

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Not what I expected...

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more from Cartier Bresson. I found a few paragraphs of some interest, but no more than that. It is also a very small book, can be read in a day.

Good Read

Most photographers would find this a nice book to add to their collection.

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.

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reviews: page 1, 2

The first compilation of writings by a master of photography.

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.

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