How to Take Photos Like Henri Cartier-Bresson

[@dpixvid]

“It’s quicker than drawing.”

[@jayfromaz]

Especially for those of us that can't draw.

[@joejaspervideo]

Yeah, I caught that too and loved it

[@lukeventers4755]

That line stuck out to me, too.

[@ChrisBrogan]

I had to stop this video right after that comment. I was like... wow. I'm doing everything wrong.

[@NoxDineen]

Explaining to strangers that your portrait request is a photography exercise to help you improve is such a good approach. That might be the way I can work up the courage to try it myself.

[@alvinjohnchandra2509]

Or say its for a school project....

[@edub9930]

Yes im just starting. Yet to attempt my 1st one on a complete stranger.

[@fredhatman]

Frederik, I watched this video with interest. I had a fascinating interaction with H C-B. I did a lot of street photography inLondon and on Euro trips in the late 1980s into the 90s and, while I greatly admired Kertesz, Koudelka, Doisneau, Ronis, and Erwitt et al, H C-B was my idol. I used a Leica with B&W film. I noticed a discrepancy in one of his photos, the one with the children playing in the rubble of a ruined house in Spain (I think Seville?). In one of the photo books (I think the Aperture series - I'm can't remember now, all my books are in storage) there was crack in the wall at front on the right. But I was sure I had seen this photo without the crack. I went to the V&A museum print room and, sure enough, the print in their collection had no crack in the wall. I was a journalist at The Guardian and wanted to ask him about this for a possible story to be published so arranged with an agent to speak to the great man. This must have been in around 1990 and he was getting rather old. When asked about the "missing crack" he said the negative had been damaged when a friend kept many of his negs in a biiscuit tin under a bed during the war. At some point the crack on the neg had been repaired, he said - but he was clearly uncomfortable talking about it in terms of the original having been manipulated. I kept trying to ask more questions about it for the story and he kept switching to talking about his sketching which he said was now his passion. He seemed embarassed about the issue and I did not want to discomfit my hero any further. He told me that he hoped I would not have the story published and ended the phone call quite abruptly! I wrote the story but never put it forward for publication out of respect for his wishes. Anyway, keep up the good work with your How Tp Photograph Like... series. I love seeing you have the same passion for the great pioneers of our craft as I once had!

[@richardbentleyphotography]

It's rare to read a genuinely heartfelt and passionate KZbin comment these days Fred. Then again, as a former Guardian journalist, it's no surprising. Thank you for sharing this wonderful background to a story that never hit the printing press. All the best.

[@gregwardnz]

I'm sure there are many among the famous (and infamous) who are discomforted by journalists' questions. After so much groundwork, it seems a shame you abandoned an important story simply because Cartier-Bresson was a personal hero. Were your ethical standards compromised by this decision? And does your KZbin revelation mean you now regret giving in to his demands?

[@fredhatman]

@@gregwardnz It's a good question, Greg.First, I don't regret my decision not to publish. My interest was piqued by the idea that H C-B, whose philosophy was never to change the original image either by cropping or any other form of manipulation, might have made an exception for the "crack-in-the-wall" photo. However, the reason he gave - that of the neg being cracked while being handled roughly during storage, suggested that the crack was "painted" over simply to restore the photo to its original form. So I thought that was interesting but not revelatory enough to warrant going public with it. It is true that I was somewhat star-struck while doing the interview and felt a little sheepish about upsetting him with my questions but, in the end, the question was whether H C-B had broken his policy of never tampering with the original image and my decision was that he had not. I put it out here because I thought it would be of interest to devotees and followers of H C-B's photography but if I had to make that decision now, 30 years after the interview, I would definitely still make the decision not to publish!

[@gregwardnz]

@@fredhatman Thanks Fred. I note you wrote the story, so you must have thought it worthy of publication. In your original post you say the only reason you withheld the story was to avoid upsetting your hero. The reason given for the crack repair sounds genuine. But it doesn't explain HC-B's anxiety and discomfort. I'm still wondering why he would ask you not to publish details of a seemingly minor event?

[@fredhatman]

@@gregwardnz I can't really answer that, Greg. He was quite cranky on the phone call and kept wanting to steer the conversation away from photography to his sketching which he said he was much preferring to do. He was pretty old at that time - I haven't worked out how old - and I just remember him saying there was no story to write about "The Crack" - and I thought he was right aas there was no evidence he had deliberately asked that the photograph be manipulated to be something other than what he had seen when he pressed the shutter. it's just interesting that in some books the photo appears with the crack in the wall and in others (certainly the print I saw at the V&A) it doesn't.

[@FrankBasel2024]

Danke!

[@FTrovatten]

You’re welcome!

[@FTrovatten]

Also, thank you so much for supporting the channel Frank!

[@dantebowen2781]

Love that mom's participate in your project.

[@FTrovatten]

So nice :)!

[@jdmitchell2]

A lot of Henri Cartier-Bresson's photos had an amazing amount of simplicity

[@JezLerman]

This video is like a breath of fresh air to me. Thank you for making it. You leave me inspired, pumped, and ready to embrace the 50mm field of view. I disagree with your comments about your own photographs that appear in this clip. The majority of them are waiting to be enlarged and either hung on a prominent wall housed in a nice frame, or placed in a coffee table photo book of your own choosing. Scrap that. Do both. Love your work, really love this clip [standing up, applauding you]. Bravo, Frederik!

[@emmanuelbegue]

You are too modest; your photographs are magnificent!! The portrait of Anarchist Allan @7:24 is fantastic. Girls @19:50 too. And many more. Bravo.

[@oliverbauer6304]

just wanted to say thank you for making these videos. started out with street photography about a month ago and you really bring all the important stuff across so well. also your production is really great. Love it.

[@punapirate]

In college Henri was my muse. We were allocated 4 rolls Tri-X per week and one roll of Ektachrome. During the Paris riots he shot a minimum number of photos over 4 days, but each one told a story and was used in Paris Match... other photographers would shoot thousands of frames with their motor driven Nikon Photomics or F’s.

[@TheNewTravel]

This was like the perfect mix of entertainment and education.... Great video!!!

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks a lot Dan! Really appreciate it!

[@sputumtube]

Well said - agreed. :)

[@steinsvideos3997]

I love your enthusiasm Frederik, got a new subscriber!

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks Stein!

[@umsinaldemim]

The happiness and joy you photograph with it's so heartwarming.

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

You’ve got a great spirit man. Shines through your work. 👍🏽

[@patyeaman]

One on Fan Ho would be interesting.

[@rrrteee8405]

Yes!!!!!

[@logicfrogmedia]

that would be amazing!

[@hijodelsoldeoriente]

Yes, please!

[@theovanberkel3524]

Couldn't agree more here!

[@sethhenderson7729]

Emphatically agree!

[@charlierivera5725]

Awesome video. Love shooting black and white. B&W tells such a story, unique way to see the world. Thank you for these videos

[@daily_pocket_review]

Awesome video. I really appreciate you mentioning it takes a trained eye to recognise you took a good photo. Also the music was on point.

[@davejolley6869]

simply superb I thank You.

[@StarlordStavanger]

Dude you're back! Hell yeah!!! Always love your street walking photography videos, hope your move went well and glad to see you back my brother!

[@arhiiso]

I really enjoyed watching your video! Keep up the great work! All the best, Iso

[@johntruman6571]

A really great, educative video Frederik. I love your self deprecating attitude. However, you are a photography scholar, capable and modest. The humour is also appreciated. More please Sir.

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks a lot for the kind words John! Much appreciated!

[@JonathanRobinson11]

Thank you for your videos. They are organic and instructive.

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks!

[@hyuseynify]

This feels like a free online class! Thank you so much for this!

[@TerraMagnus]

Sebastião Salgado has to be one of my favorite photographers. He's the only one who's made me cry, more than once, with his work.

[@rodrigolandim6625]

His works on the Kuwait warfare and the Tutsi genocide are both raw and impressive. Great photographer and great Brazilian.

[@JO-gp7yl]

You're back! We missed you 😉. Love this series, please keep them coming!

[@FTrovatten]

Yes! This video killed me haha.. I went out for 10 hours over 3 days to get these photographs hah.

[@BukBukLao22]

I don't think I've ever subscribed to any channel this fast. Awesome video!

[@FTrovatten]

My guy!

[@jesusisapisces]

I love how he whispered 'bullshit' in that woman's ear like a naughty little child who knew he was saying something bad 😂😂 Great photos!!

[@FTrovatten]

Haha I know! I was dying when I saw the clip and had to use it :)!

[@odedpeled6774]

Excellent video Frederik! Thank you!

[@huntercreatesthings]

Your enthusiasm and insight is always so much fun to watch. Great photos - so much to learn from HCB!

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks Hunter!

[@danwoodliefphotography871]

One of your best videos. I am a big admirer of HBC, but your then and now guard photos made me smile the most. Someday, I will visit Copenhagen.

[@ddream777]

Brilliant video! Thank you Frederik.

[@Netcom27]

It’s always humbling to try a different style and see how you failed miserably compared to a master you tried to emulate. Humbling and encouraging to try, try and try once again. Never stop learning, in anything you do. Oh, and you actually did really good Frederick!

[@FTrovatten]

Couldn’t agree more! Humbles me haha! Thanks a lot!

[@dougpotosky4102]

Try working with what you have! Why try to copy a great? No rewards! No honor! Good luck. Ps. This is what I tell everyone. Never compare yourself to others!

[@JHurrenPhotography]

When I started I found inspiring in imitation. It was a good way to try tools and materials.

[@leemjfreeman9856]

My favourite series on youtube. I wish for many more of these!

[@goose.biscuits]

I think he said one of the truest statements about why I love photography, "It's faster than drawing." I loved to draw when I was younger but now I love photography because I can either shoot the image I want or shoot the basis for the image of art I want to create.

[@bondgabebond4907]

Photography is great for those who can't draw a square properly, like me.

[@gbattisbal]

Very good video. I enjoyed very much. I’m sure I will watched again some times to get inspired. I liked what you said about that it is equal complicated took a photo than recognize that we take a good photo. Cheers.

[@WesleyVerhoevePhotography]

That shot with the two guards was great!

[@FTrovatten]

Thanks Wesley! Appreciate it!

[@danielwiese6549]

Great great video mate. Well produced and very entertaining to watch.

[@faimeolos]

This remembered my last time on Copenhaguen, you walked by a lot of places in which I created lots of special moments, brings me back a lot of good memories. The photos were awesome, thank you for this video ❤️

[@DanielPetre]

Mom rocks !

[@HalidesAndHollowness]

Yes! You're back! My vote goes to Saul Leiter for the next one in this series. And that photo of the cyclist and the man split by the stairs is stunning, love it.

[@hamidaminrezai3449]

Det er da noget af en overraskelse for mig, at folk på gaden giver lov til at blive fotograferet. Det sker SÅ sjældent for mig. Udover det så synes jeg godt om videoen. Tak for det. Thumbs UP ;)

[@williamshaffer9216]

You did a wonderful job of studying Bresson and analyzing his work. I continue to be impressed with your use of the Rolleiflex 2.8! I, too, love Twin Lens Reflex Cameras. When I first started in serious photography, I photographed my parents and grandparents constantly. 50 years later, they are gone but my photos remain----photographic treasures for me. You should do portraits of your mother. She is a beautiful woman!

[@aristoioannidis7490]

An outstanding representation of Henri Cartier Bresson. Congratulations and thank you for this most informative documentary.

[@jayfromaz]

When I teach photography classes I try to emphasize how important composition is. Include that with that one moment of expression that helps tell you about the person or the situation and you should get a great photograph. As a photojournalist there was always a moment that would tell a story. That picture would represent a million words.

[@bondgabebond4907]

I did a lot of photojournalism while working on the base newspaper in the U.S. Air Force. The class I took before heading off to my next base taught a lot about composition. I feel people should take a photojournalism class to get the basics of composition and cropping for the best effect. Photos have to tell a story and support a story to work.

[@jayfromaz]

@@bondgabebond4907 when I taught the classes I told everybody the most important thing was composition. Some people naturally have it. Others don't. But the basic rules can.

[@bondgabebond4907]

@@jayfromaz : Just keep looking at photos of people, places and things and you will get the hang of it. Some people can draw, some can't. In photography, you can. There are simple rules to follow. Try a subject, a girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, child and just have fun messing with them. Have them do things you would consider crazy, like making faces, pouting, smiling, dead face, tilt up, tilt down, just anything and laugh. Look at the pix on a good size monitor and see what you come up with. Sorry I can't remember the rules, but you can find them on the web. I learned this stuff around 1976 and spent the next 10 or so years photographing everything from people to airplanes in the Air Force, working on the base newspaper. Lots of practice, lots of choosing and criticism. Eventually I got the knack. What I find is that when friends and family, having them do crazy things, like sticking fingers in ears and giving me a funny face is really fun. You learn to bring life to a subject. Kids are even more fun. Catching them in the act is rewarding. I got one of my grandson with two deflated balloons hanging out of his mouth and looking very serious. I will keep that and threaten him exposure when he is much older. Since you are using a digital camera, you are not wasting film and expending money of development. Consider that a plus. A reason for photography is keeping a visual record of life. It will become more valuable as time goes on. I will always have a photo of me at the DMZ between North and South Korea. That's why you should shoot.

[@Betterifitsfree]

Love the enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing.

[@mfurughi2068]

Fred, I really enjoyed your program. I have studied photography and the great masters. You explained the concepts in a very clear yet simple manner. Despite your humility, I really love some of the photos you took while making this documentary. Very very well done!

[@midjune8194]

This series is awesome. I lerned a lot of it. Thank you and keep going 🤍

[@eugenekutz7626]

Well, It’s been a while since your last video! Welcome back!

[@FTrovatten]

Thank you!

[@photographyalert]

Henri Cartier is indeed a best street photographer of all time. Legend !!!!!!!!

[@spyratekodaks7494]

do an Eggleston and Saul Leiter shoot like

[@sundarAKintelart]

Good. 19:53 the stride stands out. So also the composition.

[@benbeattie4609]

Absolutely magnificent, every one of your photos is a masterpiece! Far from it for me to say, but I believe H.C-B would be proud of any one of those!!

[@sirachuchchienthaworn389]

So informative while very soothing. Thanks for good video.

[@NZCycletherapy]

Thank you, that was my first time watching your channel and I must say it was very entertaining and informative. You are very good at relaying the work of the great photographers, you inspire me.

[@tomfu6210]

"What makes a good photography?" "I don't know..." H. Cartier-Bresson I like it, the best answer from the master :-)

[@JulioCesarEirasMelanda]

It was so nice to see Copenhagen through your eyes with Cartier-Bresson in mind. I've taken so many photos of the city already but I often don't like my photos enough. I'll try to take advantage of this things you mention next time I'm out in KBH.

[@daifuruta581]

Great video, I take photos with a vintage lens with a digital camera, no flash, aperture priority setting, and don"t use any photo editing software. This is how I take photos. I will look for Henri Cartier Bresson book

[@RobbyJHope]

This video was very entertaining Frederik! As a mainly film photographer for 15 years I never really took the time to study other photographer's work or much of photography theory outside of rule of thirds, golden ratio. Maybe I can finally call myself a photographer now that I have learned a little bit about Henri Cartier-Bresson. I love that you're always learning and growing and never acting as the absolute professional. We all have room for growth.

[@kevinchen2856]

I always learn a lot from your videos. Thank you so much!

[@martingreenberg870]

I love Saul Leiter. He shot color when that wasn’t considered artistic. I love when he creates large areas of negative space. He had a passion for umbrellas, especially red ones. I see in B&W so it is liberating to see and use color. Saul would be a good perso to look at and learn how to shoot like him. Mask on Nurse Marty

[@lingxiaogao7382]

Steven Shore

[@yiddotrenda35]

Saul

[@theoriginalhavoc]

I love your point of getting out of your comfort zone with shooting. Gordon Parks and James Van Der Zee would be two great legends to do next.

[@anastasie58]

I am speechless with your video!!! I would like to see you taking photos like Josef Koudelka maybe!

[@FTrovatten]

Thank you so much! Josef is noted!

[@anastasie58]

@@FTrovatten Perfect! I can't wait!!

[@craigpatchett3508]

I really enjoyed this, and especially liked your overhead escalator shot at 8:56. You have a new subscriber!

[@andrew.j.fontana]

Great video! Would love to see one on Garry Winogrand.

[@paulmurphypudsey3304]

Very good viewing made my Sunday morning thank you very much

[@fellowcitizen]

12:20 Sigma's new fp and fp L cameras have a whole host of framing options, and one which is unique to their system may be the Golden Ratio, I think. It's called 'A' and refers to a ratio with the square root of 2 just as is found in ISO standards of A4 paper and A1 film posters etc. I think that part of the idea is to print onto A3/A4 without any waste. I'd really like to try it.

[@kipmay5101]

Very good video Frederik. I learned a lot and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[@joeltunnah]

Great topic, and I like your results! If you read the recently released Aperture book of his interviews, he mostly shot Ilford HP4 (rated at 250 at the time), f/11 and 1/125s. Several of his famous photos were shot with a 35mm or a 90mm, which he also carried. He preferred overcast days as he didn’t like photographic “effects”.

[@chqngolion1777]

???? M8 he used TriX

[@joeltunnah]

@chqngolion1777 have you read his interviews? He says Ilford. Maybe he used tri-x when he couldn't get other film. I don’t think he was dogmatic about it.

[@FTrovatten]

Which photographer should I do next? Watch next episode of this series kzbin.info/aero/PLQAJ8pSCXDc6eeFnrjnBnvXyPYNNUQzph. Also a big THANK YOU to everyone who has become a member of my channel: www.youtube.com/@FTrovatten/join. We might only be 5 members now, but it helps me create videos like this :)!

[@thn097]

Garry Winogrand

[@petermary70]

William Allard

[@mickeysphotography9262]

Tony Ray-jones

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

Graham Watson.....there's a challenge for you 👍

[@bcegerton]

I won one of these courses a couple of years ago and chose Joel Meyerowitz, still not got around to doing it. I think that due to being in Lockdown and “Shielding” most of last year and from December to April this year gave me so much time but got me so low I just didn’t want to do anything. I’ll get around to starting it properly soon

[@WillHucks]

Are you still making videos? I love your videos and work. You are easily one of my favorite photographers.

[@ZoneFocused]

Love the video man. Always a good way to challenge your eye when you try to make photos in a similar way to one of the greats. Also, I always think it's so dope that you and your mom work together to produce these videos. So cool that yall can share photography and video together! Keep it up man!

[@ThePhotographyMinimalist]

Your passion for photography is infectious, it's great! Eventhough you are a fast speaker, for some reason you are easy to follow.

[@shapdash]

The photos are amazing! I’d love to take a master class from you one day :)

[@alohamark3025]

There's a part of me that thinks that photography is about location, location, location. Being at the right place at the right time is a requirement for timeless photos. Ansel Adams comes to mind. His craftsmanship elevates his work to an artform. Then there is a part of my brain that reduces photography to the endless search for cameras with beautiful bokeh, wide open F-stops, and the right focal lengths. At some point, I realized that emotion is as important as the golden mean. That is possibly the hardest thing to capture with a camera. My teacher died in 1976. Thank you for your walking retrospective on Henri Cartier-Bresson.

[@soulbyliam]

The amount of anarchists he meets on the streets makes me happy

[@broddablack5290]

Fabulous photos, love the shapes, forms and compositions

[@chandreo]

Nice one, the thing that makes him so good with composition is that the horizon is never or almost never there. There is no infinity, it's all there, no horizon!

[@marcolkw]

This is realllly good. Thank you!!

[@AimarKorsgaard21]

Kunne være fedt med Elliot Erwitt version af "How ot take photos like".

[@FTrovatten]

Den er i min top 3 over næste videoer. Fantastiske billeder!

[@abnerlu8798]

My 1st time to watch your video. Very educational for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevanbg66]

Very nice video! Henri Cartier-Bresson is a very good photographer, but you should keep in mind the following ... 1) He has been working professionally in photography for almost 40 years. So he took pictures every day and traveled to various locations, which gave him a lot of opportunities. When you keep that in mind, he doesn't have that many good photos (quantitatively). 2) In his time, the competition was far less, fewer people were involved in photography at all, let alone professionally. It was easier to become famous and travel even more (some research says that in the first 2 years when the camera appeared on the mobile phone, more photos were taken than a total of 100 years before). Today, people are oversaturated with images. As a result of the large number of people involved in photography, the criteria have fallen sharply. I believe that today there are as many good photographers as Bresson, if not better ones, who have a "top image" almost on a daily basis or at least on a weekly basis, and they will remain complete anonymous in the sea of ​​photographs ... PS just be your own. My biggest compliment was when someone said "I knew it is your photo"

[@johnrome5827]

I stumbled in this great video. What a revelation for me. I didn't visit Copenhagen while in the Air Force during the 60s. Made it to Holland and England as well as France. I have learned that my ancestors were from Denmark. Had I known this then I certainly would have visited. I started photography in 1966 with a Nikon F. Now use digital. Your video is extremely inspiring. So happy to have found your work. Many blessings and keep up the good work. JR

[@suehodnett6911]

It would be interesting to do an artist like Matisse or Picasso, how would you photograph like they paint for instance? David Hockney's photograph collages were interesting and show how he saw things...

[@MadredeAgua9]

Jane Bown. One camera, one lens, one setting. Amazing results. You do excellent work, my friend. Keep it up.

[@HazaraTechnic]

When I hear the name Denmark, it reminds me of Danish cheese. The most delicious cheese in the world.

[@SusyGrundahl]

Tak Frederik det er en fantastisk inspirerende video, som jeg kan bruge til både fotografiet og billedkunst.

[@anta40]

Just an idea: Before becoming a photographer, HCB studied painting. Perhaps if we studied those master painters work (like Poussin), we could try to guess how those influenced HCB.

[@eldroni6146]

Ej hvor sjovt. jeg har set så mange af dine videoer, og det er først nu jeg finder ud af du er dansk. Hehe

[@mathewtoll6780]

I would love a "How to Take Photos like Fan Ho"

[@michaelconchscooter8940]

Good video especially your candid reaction to your own feelings about your pictures. The search for good photos falls short so often it’s good not to feel alone.

[@NielsdeKemp]

Awesome video Frederik, love the image at 19:03! Keep up the great work, cheers from The Netherlands 🇳🇱

[@gaberegalbuto]

Fantastic video! Your photography and thoughts were great and I loved taking a walk with you around Copenhagen. I fell in love with the city and the locals when I visited and can't wait to return!

[@edub9930]

Yes agreed. His charming accent was to boot!

[@TheJustLotta]

Really great video. Always a fan of Henri Cartier Bresson - it's the very video of yours I watched ;) - your examples + chat really helped to get under the skin of HCB.

[@hugobejar9950]

Es bueno volver a verte!

[@hurleygreen927]

Great tips from one of the best! "The Decisive Moment" is key!

[@tellemanndergaertner]

Awesome video love your enthusiasm

[@VideoSlave01]

Great video really enjoyably and informative watch

[@baloubear]

Loved this little excursion into my favourite photographer. 😊

[@GeohnnyCache]

Awesome video! Welcome back, I look forward to your videos, thanks for being here to inspire my photography.

[@Tomsdrawings]

Great to be back in Copenhagen :-). When the now famous drummer Spencer Tweedy was still a toddler, he told his father Jeff, frontman of WILCO: ‘Bob Dylan plays harmonica. And daddy plays harmonica. But daddy’s not Bob Dylan.’ And so, we are humble on the shoulders of the great photographers and we want to learn. I like your approach and subbed to your channel!