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Quote by Philippe Halsman

“The immortal photographers will be straightforward photographers, those who do not rely on tricks or special techniques.”

Quote by Philippe Halsman

Author

Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman

Philippe Halsman was a renowned photographer known for his unique portrait photography style and his ability to capture the essence of celebrities. His work spanned over half a century, covering a wide range of subjects from political leaders to movie stars. Halsman's photographic techniques and his mastery of light and shadow made him one of the most important photographers of the 20th century. more

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“With a woman I try to photograph her beauty; with a man I try to show his character. Once I photographed a man with a big nose (Jimmy Durante), and emphasized his nose, and he was very pleased with the picture. That could not happen with a woman. The most intelligent woman will reject a portrait if it doesn't flatter her.”

“In a jump, the subject, in a sudden burst of energy, overcomes gravity. He cannot simultaneously control his expressions, his facial and his limb muscles. The mask falls. The real self becomes visible. One only has to snap it with the camera.”

“When the photographer Philippe Halsman said, 'Jump,' no one asked how high. People simply pushed off or leapt up to the extent that physical ability and personal decorum allowed. In that airborne instant Mr. Halsman clicked the shutter. He called his method jumpology. The idea of having people jump for the camera can seem like a gimmick, but it is telling that jumpology shares a few syllables with psychology. As Halsman, who died in 1979, said, 'When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping, and the mask falls, so that the real person appears.'”