There is a photographer I cannot remember the name of...

[Lyev]

Hello, I was wondering if I could have some help trying to find out about a photographer that I heard about a while ago. There a user here who had a photo of theirs as an avatar (possibly TAT? but he's gone now anyway, it might have been someone like Bilan or Raul Duke). They are male, from possibly France, Germany or somewhere like Belgium, or possibly further east (Hungary, or Ukraine or something). The photograph of theirs was in black & white and they are well-known for taking pictures of prostitutes (the photo I liked was one of a prostitute standing under a street-lamp) and for taking pictures of things 'on the street', for want of a better phrase. This is the best description I can give, but probably it is too vague. Thanks a lot anyway!

[blake 3:17]

Brassai?

[Lyev]

Wow, yes that is it! I didn't think anyone would remember after a few days of making this and no-one replying, because my description wasn't very good, but yeah that is right! Anyway, here is the photo:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JycfUpINFi4/TE75FSBhmTI/AAAAAAAAEn0/ICvcI3yZqlM/s1600/brassai_prostitute.jpg


What does anyone else think? Has anyone seen any of Brassai's films?
Again, thanks a lot for flagging him up.

(oh by the way, Brassai was Hungarian, but I think in fact this photograph was actually taken in France (the shop says 'Fromage') and he did spend some time in Paris.)

[blake 3:17]

All of his work I'm familiar with was done in France. There's a fabulous collection of photos from Parisian whorehouses. I'm not familiar with his films.

I'm spotty in my knowledge of photography and couldn't say who his photographing contemporaries were. I believe he ran more with painters and poets, but could be wrong. When I think of him I think of Man Ray, who was doing very very different work but has overlaps of time and themes. Ray primarily staged his photos.

Are you familiar with Nan Goldin's work? I saw her retrospective at the Whitney which was amazing and have a couple of her smaller books. (The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is brilliant!)

You might be interested in the work of a couple here who do staged and collaged photos on issues of workers rights: http://www.web.net/~condebev/