Customer Reviews

Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Mind's Eye

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This is the nicest book I've ever read on photography. Bresson explains his art in a very comprehensive way and invites us to think about the photography. He also reminds us one thing that we are usually keen to forget about it: The photograph is nothing without it's content; The content must be the reflection of our life.. It was a real pleasure for me to read this great master's well filtered thoughts (over 90 years!)on photography. For those who think photograph really does matters

This book is certainly looks interesting for anybody wanting to learn a bit more about the art and thinking of Cartier-Bresson, and indeed it is beautifully designed and produced. Unfortunatly the the little scraps of information that it contains seem as if they have been published just beacause they have indeed come from the great masters mouth. I mean its all kind of throw away stuff obviously never intended to be published with perhaps a couple of interesting paragraphs -but you probably knew those ones anyway-. So if you really want to study his work get "the artless art" if you want to learn from his experience, look at his pictures, you won't get much from this one.

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.

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.

I got HCB's book from the library this week and couldn't stop reading it since I started.
Mind you this book has its pluses and minuses:
Pluses:
It is gives good insight in HCB's style of thinking and in general photography in his own words. He talks about his little experiences in China, Cuba, Russia and also about his friends.
Minuses:
The book is very brief and u yearn for more of his stories and experience. It has very less photographs, so if you are looking for that you might get disappointed.

With all that said, I would definitely recommend all of u Photography fans to read it at least once if your local library carries it.

Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the founder of Magnum Photos rarely write, he rather shoot or sketch. That makes this book quite rare and significant. It compile Bresson writing in one book. Bresson discussed about his thought about photography especially photojournalism.

By reading this book, you get insight about what inside Bresson's mind on photography, philosophy and what he thinks about other artists. Part two of the book discuss about Bresson's travel to China, Cuba etc. It provides interesting insight on his journey.

However, this book is not technical how-to book, if you are looking for book that teach you how to take photo like Bresson, then you are looking for a wrong book. However, I think that the map/rules for Bresson's style can't be explained because it is basically no rules or map. But, you can get some valuable insights from this book and perhaps get a feel what Bresson is about.

Here are some interesting paragraphs that I quote right from the book:

"Subject does not consist of a collection of facts, for facts in themselves offer little interest. Through facts, however, we can reach an understanding of the laws that govern them, and be better able to select the essential ones which communicate reality."

"The camera is for us a tool, not a pretty mechanical toy. In the precise functioning of the mechanical object perhaps there is an unconscious compensation for the anxietes and uncertainties of daily endevor. In any case, people think far too much about technique and not enough about seeing."

"Complicated equipment and light reflectors and various other items of hardware are enough, to my mind, to prevent the birdie from coming out."

I bought this book thinking that I was going to receive more insight of Cartier-Bresson style. There is something but I expected more about the thinking of this master of Photography.

Fast, Did not take anytime, good packaging, and i do recommend buying from this vendor!!!!

Thanks,

Di!

in this compact book, the author's elegant writing engages readers in a wild journey of photography, an essential read for both principles & practice.

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