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Elisa Colbert
Bill Brandt Biography:
-Born: May 2, 1904 in Hamburg, Germany.
-Education: While attending school as a child, Brandt was bullied by his classmates. This coupled with the rise of Nazism during World War II caused Brandt to disown his German background. Soon after he graduated high school, Brandt was admitted to a sanatorium in Switzerland during the 1920's for treatment for tuberculosis, preventing him from attending college.
-Introduction to photography: Brandt first picked up photography as a hobby during his treatment in Switzerland.
-Reason for becoming photographer: Once released from the sanatorium, Brandt traveled to Vienna, Austria and worked for Dr. Eugenie Schwarzwald in a portrait studio. While working for Dr. Schwarzwald, Brandt met Man Ray, whom Brandt assisted in Paris and discovered his love for expression through photography.
-Before/After photography: Brandt became a photographer immediately following his graduation of high school, working as a photojournalist for newspapers and magazines, writing photography books, and teaching photography classes at Royal College. He continued his career as a photographer until his death on December 20, 1983.
Brandt began his photography career taking pictures that made a statement. The purpose of the picture was the perspective, not the picture itself. Brandt's photographs had a unique perspective of a young photographer, full of wonder and excitement. Man Ray tapped into the expressionist side of Brandt, teaching Brandt to find new perspectives and to be guided by the point of view of the camera instead of photographing exactly what was in front of him. As WWII began, Brandt’s style lost expression, and became a documentation of the struggle of London. His style changed and mirrored those of Eugène Atget, Brassaï, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, documenting exactly what was in front of him. Brandt was one of the first photographers to incorporate night photography into his photographs, a setting he used often in order to document the struggle of London. Once WWII ended, Brandt reverted back to searching for new perspectives to take pictures from, and often used wide angles lens and older cameras to portray images in ways that the human eye could not see. Brandt explored all aspects of photography, and was fully committed to the medium in such a way that a camera could teach him how to see a new perspective.
-Major Contributions: Bill Brandt introduced many new perspectives and ways of viewing photography to the world. Brandt set the standard for the level of thought that went into each photograph. He caused photographers to take pictures from unique and interesting angles rather than take pictures of what was in front of them. Brandt also introduced photographers to the idea of night photography. He opened up a whole new lighting and scene to the world, and gave the public an insight to life after dark. Bill Brandt is considered one of the most diverse and dramatic photographers of all time.
-Publications: Bill Brandy wrote and published many books, usually focusing on his unique takes on a common concept. Brandt also published photographs for News Chronicle, Weekly Illustrated, Lilliput, and Picture Post.
-Impact of Publications: Through publishing photographs in various magazines and newspapers, Bill Brandt made a name for himself and further developed his eye for point of view and detail. Brandt met many people through these publications such as Man Ray, who helped him reach his full potential, and to see the world through the point of view of the camera, rather than using a camera to capture his own point of view of the world.
-Collaborations: Bill Brandt worked with many other photographers, the most important of which being Man Ray, who taught him how to look through the camera using a new perspective. Bill Brandt also published his book "Shadow of Light" with Cyril Connolly and Mark Haworth-Booth. His photographs also reflected those of Eugène Atget, Brassaï, and Henri Cartier-Bresson throughout his photography career.
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