Films by Photographers

A friend emailed seeking films made by photographers. I sent back a short list, but realized that many of those that came to mind are quite hard to find. Here are a few that do show up on DVD....

By Elliott Erwitt there's: Beauty Knows No Pain

And by William Klein: The Delirious Fictions of William Klein

Or for those of you able to view PAL disks: Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo?

Elliott Erwitt's Camera Case, Circa 1974

On my bookshelf is a copy of The Private Experience, Elliott Erwitt which was published in 1974. At the back of the book there's a technical section which includes a glimpse into "Erwitt's complete traveling camera case with Canon cameras and lenses."

While best known for shooting with a Leica, it turns out that:

'For most of his "professional" still photography -- the pictures he makes for money -- Erwitt has reduced his equipment arsenal to the contents of one case weighing approximately 32 pounds.'

Inside the case: two Canon F1s, a complete set of prime lenses (17mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 35mm tilt/shift, 50mm, 100mm, 135mm, 200mm and 300mm), a cable release, a Minolta light meter and an Eastman Kodak "Pocket Guide to Photography."

I like the fact that they put "professional" in quotes.

Beauty Knows No Pain

I asked Elliott Erwitt where I could see the documentaries he had made, and he said that Beauty Knows No Pain could be found at "National Something or Other."

And it looks like he is correct. And also that the piece can be viewed online. Excellent.

Elliott Erwitt

I'll post about what he said and how he said it sometime very soon. For now: meet Mr. Elliott Erwitt.

Elliott Erwitt Will Be at Strand Tonight

Tonight, I'm hoping to stop by the Elliott Erwitt booksigning at Strand Books. If you can't make it, you should consider adding his last two books: Personal Best and Unseen to your photography bookshelf.

A Second Chance

I missed the Elliott Erwitt booksigning at ICP, and I've been kicking myself since. Luckily, there will be another, this time at Strand Books on Wednesday, December 12.

What Would Elliott Erwitt Do? Well, he would attend.

Photography in the News

Are there any photography-related items in the news?

Well, in Berlin 250 Leni Riefenstahl photographs were stolen. More importantly, at least for this blog:

"...300 works by American photographer Elliott Erwitt disappeared from a basement storage unit at the offices of Photo Estate GmbH, a subsidiary of Berlin gallery Camera Work AG, police said."

Here's the article.

What Would Elliott Erwitt Definitely, Definitely Not Do?

Elliott Erwitt would not put a booksigning he wanted to go to on his calendar, then forget to go.

Especially if he was someone else, and the booksigning was by Elliott Erwitt.

It's been a rough week all month.

Photography Quote of the Day

From Interviews with Master Photographers, published in 1977:

James Danziger: Do you see the camera as being generous or cruel?

Elliott Erwitt: Depends on what you do with it.

James Danziger: I mean innately.

Elliott Erwitt: Innately it's nothing. The camera doesn't do it. It's the person behind it. You make certain decisions. I was never very fond of Mr. Nixon and I once went to the wedding of one of his daughters with the specific intention of taking unpleasant pictures of certain people I didn't like. The event was so spectacular, so well done, so beautiful, that I totally failed in my mission.

James Danziger: Do you believe in the power of photography to effect social change?

Elliott Erwitt: Yes. Absolutely.

James Danziger: Does that affect a lot of your work?

Elliott Erwitt: Not all. I'm sorry. I just don't. I don't like to get into this heavy attitude towards everything. I really don't have that.

Unseen: The New Elliott Erwitt Book

Here's that new Elliott Erwitt book: Unseen.

It looks like it will be shipping in December.