William Klein: In Pictures

An exclusive interview with photographer William Klein and a first-ever glimpse behind the scenes at his Paris studio.
'Almost everything is coincidence and luck and chance.' William Klein is one of the twentieth century's most important photographers and film-makers and in this interview for Tate Media, he discusses his experience photographing on the streets of New York, the challenges in publishing his first New York book and how he worked with filmmaker Federico Fellini.
Klein's work is featured in the exhibition William Klein + Daido Moriyama at Tate Modern, 10 October 2012--20 January 2013.

[@brendacooke4274]

How did I miss his passing? I did my university thesis on William Klein and got to meet him in San Francisco in 1988. I am deeply saddened by his passing. His work was a true inspiration in my journey as a photographer.

[@ArchibaldRobinson]

Rest in Peace William Klein.

[@Zombierenji]

Seeing docs like these are inspirational. thanks

[@gracemusic2]

I met William twice over the years I photographed him first in 1996, and then in 2016. He actually invited me to come to Paris to visit him. I never took him up on the visit!

[@Chris-is1rd]

thanks for posting this. klein is one of my all time favorites

[@concretely]

Thank you for this short film, it's fascinating to see this master of photography speak, to reflect on the link between the person and the photographs so intimately.

[@pixiedixie3682]

Another giant! Thanks for the documentary , will be on my photography documentaries collection .

[@djakebob]

Many, many thanks to William Klein for agreeing to this wonderful piece, and for Mr. Hampton & his crew!

[@lauralasby]

I love these videos you put out Tate. They are all so interesting. Thanks.

[@hilton607]

Oh so wonderful having these excerpts available......"Science".......is Good..

[@pauliedontsurf]

Perfection. Long live William Klein!

[@Tate]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@anodyne57]

Beautiful man, beautiful portrait.

[@Camerasnaps]

Thank you for doing this.

[@anodyne57]

Props to the legendary Chris Marker! How did I not know, he was one of the ones that got those New York photos published. What a guy.

[@repxam841]

"Nobody said no except this guy."

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

Okay, this connects Klein to Chris Marker who made the film "La Jetée." Makes sense. The still B&W photos. This is history.

[@suzanne3t]

I connected Marker to "La Jetée" right away. That is an amazing film.

[@slavensmolcic]

I just like how he sometimes laugh when he say something funny.

[@ledtijanazepp]

I ja xD Me too xD

[@Tate]

Thanks! It is hard to go wrong when the subjects are so interesting.

[@2yoyodog]

loved this..thanks

[@janeburton2589]

Thank you for watching. Klein's images are fantastic. I'm so glad he agreed to be filmed for this doc, and thanks to our brilliant film director, Martin Hampton for capturing it.

[@waynegilbert4784]

hello Jane how are you I see you like William

[@MetaSteve777]

Truly inspiring.

[@alaindezii4445]

Ok, I think you've had enough...drops the book. Love it.

[@chrisgillmangable]

What a life. What a legacy.

[@fernandomesquita3497]

It's clear!... Simply great.

[@ldhorricks]

There is nothing like printing and looking at a set on contacts for the first time...with an 8x Loupe and a china marker. I wont get into the film vs digital its a tired argument now. But I can say that i feel bad for new photographers or photographers who have never shot film and not experienced the anticipation, surprise, joy, disappointment of seeing a set of images for the first time. I still shoot a lot of film although not so much anymore for the bulk of my professional work. I still shoot film on set, for my commissioned portraiture, or anything else personal. I will never be able to give up the process of working with film.

[@techmonstr]

As a kid who grew up during the period when digital photography was gaining traction and film was dying off (i know that's very vague since digital started gaining traction in the early 90s), I only had very scant memories of shooting with film. My photography journey as a teenager had mostly been centered around digital photography. When a friend suggested I shoot film to force myself to use the bare minimum, and focus on the shot instead, I decided to go for it. And I have no regrets. I absolutely love film. In fact, I shoot almost exclusively film these days. Still trying to hone my skills but film is a very polarising format. You can't pray and spray with film.

[@HunterMann]

Larry Horricks I agree with you Larry. Real film photography, and reel cinematography, is such a different endeavor than digital. I love the economics of film, that we waited for the light, really studied the composition, looked for textures, sought out the best angle to document a place or person. We were not like today's image grabbers, we didn't rip thru 1,000 clicks then rely on photoshop to end up with one superb image out of the lot. I recall being 17,back in1976. I spent a few months living in a small beach town in Mexico. I didn't bring a camera with me. On the final day of my visit there, I borrowed a man's old Nikkormat camera and shot a roll of 24 black & whites. It was a rare day with clouds so the contrast was marvelous Over the course of 12 hours is shot the roll of film. A month later, back in San Francisco I processed and printed the roll in a darkroom. 18 excellent photos. That was a wealthy moment for me, to see that... sometimes, less truly is more.

[@sauzeeee]

don't worry. in my country film is regaining traction between photographers, young and old, beginners and veterans. i'd say that film photography has become more accessible recently.

[@vinyljunkie07]

Love William Klein, he's a total bad ass

[@orangeeye828]

rest in peace master

[@WStroo]

Wow, what a guy!

[@AxistubeToulouse]

William !!!!!!! .....rip

[@adamuolaoluwa4937]

Thank you

[@omnirhythm]

W. Klein is the white-haired expressive counterpart to the black-haired, ever so composed D. Moriyama :D

[@pieskogut9227]

Dziekuje.

[@HunterMann]

Thanks for this nice short doc on William Klein. I had seen a doc about Klein done for Sony, by Chuck Fishbein. This started one of those great KZbin chain reactions of watching other video clips of Klein. I've been a filmworker, not filmmaker, for the past 35 years. I'm ild-school when it come to real film photography and reel film cinematography, so you can imagine it's really annoying for me to see someone with a little GoPro and mini tripod calling themselves a filmmaker. Videographer is what they are and should own that word and do their best with that medium, a medium that is not film by any stretch. Comments?

[@yeohi]

Sure, why not?

[@jiivavignesh]

@tate So impressive contents. Thanks 👍

[@connectingthedots100]

Awesome!

[@alsaulso1332]

the man!!!!!

[@gus_fla]

Inspiring

[@nunoteixeiradesign]

Today, "close" means a punch in your face several times in a year of street photography, people are angry and uncomfortable all the time.

[@chenchiehwei.film.tv.culture]

very nice...

[@clt8762]

GREAT Klein

[@christianbaumgartner9503]

Anyone knows what is the piano music of this???

[@christophertan3707]

It's listed in the credits at the end.

[@belaragon4999]

When was that shot please?

[@HenryStradford]

2:44 AMEN!

[@mattheusmacedo9542]

"Ok I think you have enough"

[@AI-Hallucination]

Last of the Mohicans

[@robertbutts9835]

I think painters make great photographers. (2022) he is 93 years old..!!!

[@anodyne57]

The list is long. Some very interesting filmmakers too...with roots in painting.