Robert Capa, 1913-1954
May 23, 2014 12:06:12 #
The June issue of Vanity Fair has an article on Robert Capa, the famous combat photographer, who landed with the first wave on D-Day, Omaha Beach, on June 6, 1944. The link takes you to the complete article.
Only 11 of the 106 frames he took that day were ever published. The rest of the negatives perished because a technician ruined them in a drying cabinet.
I've looked, but could not determine what film he was using. Probably very slow film. Kodak, so far, has been no help. They would know what would have been available in 1944. Maybe someone here knows.
In the movies, "The Longest Day" and "Searching for Private Ryan" are said to portray some of the D-Day chaos realistically.
Capa died while on photographic assignment in Indochina in 1954.
Any one of us can still be a combat photographer. Think Ukraine, Central Africa, Syria, just to name a few. Fame, perhaps even fortune, awaits us.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/06/photographer-robert-capa-d-day
Only 11 of the 106 frames he took that day were ever published. The rest of the negatives perished because a technician ruined them in a drying cabinet.
I've looked, but could not determine what film he was using. Probably very slow film. Kodak, so far, has been no help. They would know what would have been available in 1944. Maybe someone here knows.
In the movies, "The Longest Day" and "Searching for Private Ryan" are said to portray some of the D-Day chaos realistically.
Capa died while on photographic assignment in Indochina in 1954.
Any one of us can still be a combat photographer. Think Ukraine, Central Africa, Syria, just to name a few. Fame, perhaps even fortune, awaits us.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/06/photographer-robert-capa-d-day
D-Day La.nding, June 6, 1944. Helmet would appear to be British or Canadian.
Robert Capa
May 23, 2014 15:46:53 #
GrayPlayer
Loc: Granby, Ct.
Recently read "The Bedford Boys written by Alex Kershaw. Overall, twenty-two men from Bedford, Va. lost their lives, forever impacting the town.
Please remember all veterans on Monday.
Please remember all veterans on Monday.
May 24, 2014 08:06:29 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
see
https://www.google.com/search?q=robert+capa+camera+used&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cYiAU4PAB5CRqAbS5oDIAQ&ved=0CEIQ7Ak&biw=1066&bih=5
there is a shot of his camera (contax) and a roll of film behind it. it is TMax.
Upon meeting Wilson Hicks photoeditor of Life Magazine he told him his name was Capa because he was afraid he would not be hired by Life if he used his real name Friedman - he feared anti semitism.
Capa's best quote: "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
https://www.google.com/search?q=robert+capa+camera+used&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cYiAU4PAB5CRqAbS5oDIAQ&ved=0CEIQ7Ak&biw=1066&bih=5
there is a shot of his camera (contax) and a roll of film behind it. it is TMax.
Upon meeting Wilson Hicks photoeditor of Life Magazine he told him his name was Capa because he was afraid he would not be hired by Life if he used his real name Friedman - he feared anti semitism.
Capa's best quote: "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
Scoutman wrote:
The June issue of Vanity Fair has an article on Ro... (show quote)
May 24, 2014 09:18:37 #
Scoutman wrote:
Any one of us can still be a combat photographer. Think Ukraine, Central Africa, Syria, just to name a few. Fame, perhaps even fortune, awaits us.
Death is too great a possibility. A woman photographer was killed - somewhere - last week.
May 24, 2014 12:33:04 #
I hardly think Tmax, since it wasn't available until early 80's. Tri-X maybe, but Tri-X wasn't available before 1954.
Plus-X maybe?
Plus-X maybe?
May 24, 2014 12:34:51 #
Capa was one of the greats. At 85 I will pass on combat photography; had my chance in '53
May 24, 2014 12:48:40 #
The fast film Kodak marketed before Tri X was Super XX. If I remember correctly it had a speed of ASA 100 with Plus X at 50 and Panatomic X at 25. At 400 ASA (ISO) Tri X was a big deal when introduced back then.
May 24, 2014 13:04:41 #
I agree that Super XX was the fastest. It was also grainy. Later films were all better. We had a fine assortment of films until digital killed it. Now we have to take what the sensor manufacturer gives us.
May 24, 2014 13:05:48 #
Scoutman wrote:
The June issue of Vanity Fair has an article on Robert Capa, the famous combat photographer, who landed with the first wave on D-Day, Omaha Beach, on June 6, 1944.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/06/photographer-robert-capa-d-day
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/06/photographer-robert-capa-d-day
When I saw the title of your post, the image below came to mind - one of his most famous, "The Falling Soldier."
May 24, 2014 14:17:48 #
For a modern look at war photographers see a guy named "Zoriah"
it's brutal and scary.
This is part 1...there are many more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjiC5YvgWzI
it's brutal and scary.
This is part 1...there are many more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjiC5YvgWzI
May 24, 2014 14:55:02 #
That's a helluva a photo. I believe it but some people say it was a set up.
May 25, 2014 01:17:04 #
Scoutman wrote:
The June issue of Vanity Fair has an article on Ro... (show quote)
Thanks Scoutman for the very interesting and riveting read. Once I got started I read every bit of the article and it rang so true especially on this weekend.
May 25, 2014 01:49:08 #
Capa went ashore with the US 1st Division on Omaha, 16th Infantry and that is not a Canadian or British Helmet, besides none of them were at Omaha. I do have an advantage, I've seen that photo before in a much bigger size. The other regiment that led on Omaha was the 29th Div's 116th Infantry. That unit traced itself back to the Stonewall Brigade of the Civil War. He probably got pictures of both units at sometime during the invasion.
Scoutman wrote:
The June issue of Vanity Fair has an article on Ro... (show quote)
May 25, 2014 02:43:52 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Death is too great a possibility. A woman photographer was killed - somewhere - last week.
Anja Niedringhaus maybe?
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/04/04/associated-press-photographer-killed-reporter-shot-in-afghanistan-tribute-to/
"Eyewitnesses say the two reporters, Gannon and the APs Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Anja Niedringhaus were waiting in a blue station wagon outside an election headquarters in Khost in eastern Afghanistan, a stronghold of the Haqqani Taliban network.
A police officer with an AK-47 walked up to the back of the car and opened fire after shouting, Allahu Akbar. Niedringhaus -- one of the very best war photographers in the world, according to her colleagues -- was killed instantly. "
sorry a bit off topic i know but I thought it a little unfair not to know her name.
maybe it was Camille Lepage, just 26 ,died of gunshot wounds in the Central African Republic 4 weeks later.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/25/female-photojournalists-visions-of-conflict-war-reporting
May 25, 2014 09:30:07 #
An excellent piece. I remember all the names in it. I was too young to participate, but not too young to absorb. It was one incredible period.
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