Elliott Erwitt looks for fun in photo sequences

I love Elliot Erwits images because he's obviously enjoying himself and his sense of enjoyment, humour and love of people and photography comes through in his pictures.

They are simple, humorous and he obviously knows how to get the most from his gear or lots of those shots would be missed.

I found some of his pictures recently in a magnum photographers book and for me he is simply refreshing, the humour jumped out from the book and for me he was one of the stand out photographers in the book.

I personally had never thought of doing a sequence of images and always tend to try and summarise everything in one shot, at least this book shows that there is another way.

Now, that we've become so gear focused he reminds me that in the end its about whats in the picture, and I should spend less time staring at 100% crops and lens reviews and more time with my camera in my hand.

You know what would be great? Take a bunch of pictures and play them back in sequence quickly. so you can see the motion. And maybe even record sound while you're shooting. wait... oh...

What seriously drives me crazy is when a sports photographer shows pictures in a sequence and also tries has explain what was happening at that time.

The best pictures stand on their own based on what we see in the frame.

(full disclosure I'm a huge Erwitt fan), but I can't figure out why people love to downplay his work so much? He always gives a great interview because he's genuine, he's not in it for the fame, he'd still be doing it happily, even if no one knew who he was. Plus as was mentioned, he's so honest with his words and so direct that you can get more useful info from listening to him for 3 minutes then you can reading a 300 page photography instruction book. He tells you what can't be taught.

I haven't watch the video, but a month ago or so I went through Elliott Erwitt's book Sequentially Yours.
there were truly MAGNIFICENT stories told with few images. With special cariño I remember this guy at the beach sitting in a deck chair with a beer bottle on a table next to him and a blonde at his feet... the film my mind "completed" was very interesting. I got mesmerized by how Erwitt's made insignificant details, "touchstones"… that sequence wouldn't have been the same without the beer bottle. There's another with an old man, a hat and very wrinkled hands... There's one with as much glamour as Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift and Clark Gable in a very relaxed/playful mood shoot, probably at location for The Misfits film.
Film and Video are not Photography.
Each one has its own gravity fields,
language, codes, specifities, time...
each one demand of us and nurtures us with different "STUFF".
Saludos to everybody

gashô

No matter what you think of his work (and i really appreciate it ), he actually gives you an amazing amount of his secrets in under 3 minutes. What he says in three minutes sums up the essence of a brilliant photography career that spanned 30 years. If i show this to my students they will be exposed to the very essence of what makes a great photo. You have to listen to him very carefully because there is NO HYPE in his words. Jerry E (photo teacher)

"a series of photos can sometimes tell more of a story than a single shot"
No, Really?

Now THAT's Photography - pure creativity, completely removed fro hi-tec gadgetry, newest revolutionary models, and other things which serve more to sell cameras than use them. It proves that 99% of photo quality is the author, and that the picture-taaking tool is just that: a tool. And tools aren't creative.

He has heart, he has soul. Rare in today's "superficial" photography.

I don't believe it. A sequence could tell more of a story than a single shot?

Just wait til he discovers there's something called "video" now!

Good old Elliott with a quirky sense of humour and a very keen eye, the photographic medium has been surely blessed by his work.

Another fan