Tag Archives: quote

Robert Capa Quote

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, your not close enough.”

Robert Capa

I have tried to shoot with that in mind for all of my photography career.  When I saw that quote by Robert Capa, it reminded me once again to fill the frame with your subject. If you can’t fill the frame, then crop it so there is no doubt what the subject is and the story your photo is telling.

Robert Capa, a combat war photo journalist, did just that when he traveled to countless war zones in the 1930s and 40s. From the Spanish Civil war in 1936 to Vietnam war in 1954 (French). Born Endre Ernő Friedmann, in Budapest, Austria-Hungary of Jewish descent. He was studying in Berlin in 1933 when the rise of Nazism broke out. He then migrated to Paris and at the start of World War II, he moved to New York during the height of Jewish persecution. Along the way, he changed his name to Robert Capa and became an American citizen in 1946.

He is know for toting a small camera that would allow him to develop intimate, personal relationships with people and thus powerful images. His work is considered a turning point for photojournalism and war coverage.

Later he embraced 35 mm movie cameras and was involved in several projects, including one with Humphrey Bogert and Truman Capote.

In 1947, he co-founded Magnum Photos with Henry Cartier-Bresson, along with others. Magnum photos is a cooperative photo agency that manages the works of free-lance photographers to international publications. In 1952, he served as President Magnum Photos.

He was killed in 1954 when he stepped on a landmine in Vietnam. He was there for LIFE magazine to photograph the French war in Indochina. He was 41 years old.

What an incredible life and contribution he has made to the photography field, especially combat field coverage. For more information on Robert Capa, check out his Wikipedia page and ICP page.

Thanks for visiting and keep shooting!

 

I have always been a big fan of trees. When I was in college I was so infatuated with trees, I took a 3 credit course. It was fascinating. As the season changes from summer to fall, I am reminded of just how majestic trees live their life. Many grow for decades, enduring extreme temperature and environmental changes and still manage to survive. Not too certain we humans would do as well. I came across this quote of Jeffrey McDaniel’s regarding trees and it really hit home.

“I realize there is something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” – Jeffrey McDaniel

 

tree at Fuji shoreline

 

Although this is not a fall foliage image, it does show the strength of this tree. The ability to endure coastal living with it’s sandy soil and constant salty conditions is just another way trees show their strength and honesty. Knowing when and how to conserve energy to endure.

Thanks for reading and check out more of my nature portfolio on my website.

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”

– Elliott Erwitt