The Education of Inspiration with Alexandra Huddleston

When was the last time you sat down and really studied the work of our great photographic predecessors?


Take Henri Cartier-Bresson’s famous portrait of Matisse. What a simple approach—35mm black and white film, natural lighting. The great artist fills only one quarter of the frame; he isn’t looking at the camera, and he sits in a shadow, not the light … And yet, despite breaking all the rules of classic portraiture, Cartier-Bresson uses photography’s most basic techniques so that we can’t help but center our attention on the great man. 

The focus and narrow depth of field blur the foreground while pulling our eye toward Matisse at work. Moreover, the composition, the tapestry of horizontal and vertical lines, but most especially the heads of the white pigeons in the foreground, all delight the eye, and ultimately direct it back again to the artist in his heavy robe and comfy chair. Each time I looked at this photograph I learn more. It’s an education that doesn’t have to lead to imitation, but rather to inspiration and innovation. (View Cartier-Bresson’s portrait of Matisse.)

Learn more from Alexandra in her workshop
Never Again Leave Your Camera at Home
with Alexandra Huddleston
February 20 - February 26, 2011


Visit her web site www.alexandrahuddleston.com to see what she's up to.