Willy Ronis In Memoriam, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

Willy Ronis
August 14, 1910 – September 12, 2009

Already there is a theme on TE: A la mémoire de Willy RONIS. This photo is my tribute, a little late, and perhaps not so reminiscent of Ronis's work as the other photos in the theme.

In one of my earlier Introduction page texts I said I was a great fan of the French photographer Willy Ronis. I still have a couple of his prints hanging in my house. A few weeks ago this great photographer died, at the age of 99. Willy Ronis was the son of Jewish refugees, his father from Odessa and mother from Lithuania. By the time he was in his mid-twenties he was making a living as a photographer. Later, after the war, he became a contemporary of Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson, and managed to outlive them quite handsomely. I think his photos are without peer, an unforgettable tribute to Paris and its people.

A few years ago I was wandering near the Hotel de Ville in Paris, in late January, and discovered as I turned a corner that there was a monumental retrospective exhibition of Ronis's career being held in the Hotel de Ville itself! The queue was long, the day was cold in the way that windless, cloudless January days can be, but it was well worth the wait on the sunless side of the building, and the huge crowd pressing inside, to see the enormous collection of photographs by this great artist.

My own photo is not meant to represent Willy's style, but I converted to b/w to echo the mood of many of his pictures; it was taken a few weeks before I walked fortuitously around that corner. The b/w finish is a kind of tribute I suppose. It was taken on an even colder morning in the Marais (snow can be seen on the grass) looking into the tiny but beautiful Square Georges Cain in Rue Payenne. The sculpture is called 'Dawn', created by Laurent Magaier in the 17th century.

Some of Willy Ronis's photos can be seen here or here.
It has been said that this nude, taken of his wife in their kitchen in 1949 is his most famous. But my favourite is this one.

The workshop shows the line of people waiting to enter the exhibition on the Rue de Rivoli side of the Hotel de Ville. I could find two other photos on TE of the line outside this same exposition.

ChrisJ, snunney, gildasjan, jlbrthnn, johannita, skippy007, patdeph, Royaldevon, holmertz, Didi, Cricri, Vasa, edcone, Charo, jwmunro, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (171194) 2009-10-07 4:02

Hi Andrew

Someone mentioned the sad passing of this great photographer over on TL ,& your links give us an opportunity to review this artist's fine work. Good b&w image of his final resting place, with excellent sharpness, tonal range & accompanying note. Tfs!

wolf38 (30) 2009-10-07 5:58

Hello Andrew. I like those old-looking photos. That is why I like the allusion to W. Ronis. The photo is stronger than many color photographs. But the real motive is worth seeing. My appreciation for this subtle Photo. Best regards, Wolfgang.

JanD (0) 2009-10-07 6:17

Howdy Macondo!
Very interesting scene. Good black and white take. Good contrast and sharp. Original effect. Nice frame.
Regards.

snunney (130967) 2009-10-07 6:49

Hello Andrew,
The black and white suits the mood perfectly. I like the juxtaposition between man and statue with the pigeon maintaining a watching brief. A good range of tones with excellent sharpness. A fine homage to a great photographer.

gildasjan (43826) 2009-10-07 7:17

Bonjour Andrew
Une image B&W très bien composée avec ce lecteur assis et ce pigeon.Un bel hommage pour ce photographe.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

jlbrthnn (76043) 2009-10-07 8:35

Hello Andrew,
Willy Ronis knew used the black and white, without for that making sinister photographs. You are the same way. It is a superbly made up photograph, with an unquestionable humor. A beautiful well contrasted image. Cheer.
Have a nice day.
Cordially.
Joël

johannita (385) 2009-10-07 13:17

Hello Andrew,

wonderful composition with accurate sharpness and excellent use of the black and white filter. The presence of the man fills the picture with life. Excellent architecture of the building. The sculpture is really interesting. Bravo.
I followed your link and I found out that Ronis' photos are undoubtedly beautiful pieces of art.

Regards,
johannita

alftrek (3270) 2009-10-07 14:48

Hello Andrew,
This is a good one. If someone were to place this in Willy's gallery, I don't think anyone would have notice the difference, not me at least.

The composition is excellent with a pigeon, man and statue all nicely placed. The repetitive French windows and trees create an interesting rhythm for your background.

TFS
Alfred

skippy007 (12510) 2009-10-08 6:27

Hello Andrew, I can not image that is image would do this man & your note any justice in colour. Beautiful & very appropriate BW image, with excellent sharpness & tonal range, enhanced by your very informative note.
Thanks
Take care
Santo

Longroute (19600) 2009-10-08 6:41

Hello Andrew,

I confess I didn't know Willy... my photographic culture stopped at Cartier-Bresson, so your interesting note was a chance to fill this gap and I really enjoyed seeing his picture. Still even without reading the location as soon as I saw your photo I knew it was France. There is a French flavour in it, even though I cannot say why. And one can feel winter is in the air and with it a certain melancoly mood. The photo is incisive, everything is well defined and clear, in spite of the overcast sky and thanks to a good contrast. The composition has a certain symmetry with the man in the left lower corner and the statue in the right upper one, so our eyes are lead from one the the other.

Best regards,
Donato

patdeph (35750) 2009-10-08 9:33

hello Andrew
thank you for this nice homage to this great photograph,and thank you for your nice and instructive note!You have nicely composed your pictire with the diagonal made by the man,the pigeon and the statue,and B&W version is very well appropriate to this kind of scene!Very well done!
Regards
Pascale

Royaldevon (85606) 2009-10-09 1:49

Hello Andrew,

Chris (ChrisJ) has linked this shot to TL so more people will have an opportunity to appreciate it and the work of Willy Ronis. It has been a good introduction for me and has encouraged me to research the work of the photographer.
Your b&w memorial shot is sharp and with a pleasing strength of detail. The pigeon must have been directed from on high, to walk into the frame and complete a wonderful diagonal between painter and subject.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

burraburra (1219) 2009-10-09 2:54

Howdy Andrew,
Nice dedication to Willy.
Thanks for the note and the associated links.
I am now more educated than one hour ago.
Kind regards,
Graham.

holmertz (101956) 2009-10-09 11:52

Hello Andrew.
How many points would the wonderful "Le Petit Parisien" have received if it had been posted on TE? I guess anything between 10 and 100, depending on how eagerly he would have courted other members!
I think you have paid him a fine tribute with this picture, a well balanced, artistic and humane composition.
Regards,
Gert

Didi (61589) 2009-10-09 16:15

Hello andrew
Nice picture in Memorian of this great photographer
Interesting V line with the pidgeon between the man and the statue.
Oh no the B&W is not dead
Best regards

Cricri (176) 2009-10-10 11:09

Hi Andrew
Une belle contribution au théme et un très bel hommage
Un N/B excellent bien composer et super bien cadrer,
belle réalisation
Friendship
cricri

Vasa (515) 2009-10-10 14:59

Hi Andrew,

great is your dedication to Willy Ronis. Warm regards for you dear friend,

Branko

delpeoples (60342) 2009-10-10 18:09

Hi Andrew, this is a nice tribute to a very talented man. Thank you for the Note, from which I have learnt of this man (I'm such an ignoramus, I know). So it was both a pleasure to look at his photos and at your one. The B&W is very apt, the composition is good and original. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend, Lisa.

ifege (46891) 2009-10-11 2:32

A very atmospheric photo and good choice for B&W Andrew.
I wasn't familiar with Willy Ronis before this but I am now after following some of your links and I have been to the square where you took the photo - one of many great squares in the Marais.
cheers
Ian

Silvio1953 (220553) 2009-10-12 11:14

Ciao Andrew, wonderful B&W composition with interesting elements well disposed, I like WS too, very well done, have a good week, ciao Silvio

feather (51130) 2009-10-12 14:55

Your tribute could only be in B&W and good work it is too. To my inexperienced eyes the conversion is well done. The composition is good with a diagonal balance between the artist and the statue.
Kath

CMJC (5093) 2009-10-19 9:49

belle ambiance, les pigeons seraient presque la seule vie tant l'homme semble figé par le froid semble-t-il

Charo (51290) 2009-10-27 19:06

Hello Andrew,
A beautiful scene well composed. Great shades of gray and very good details.
Best wishes,
Charo

Manamo (3710) 2009-10-29 6:54

Hello Andrew,
Paris, black and white, people/humanism...yes, that's a good tribute to Ronis.I did not even know he had passed away. I like what he did too and I find it nice to see the theme that was started.
I like the mood (emphasized by the b/w) between the man, sculpture and bird.
Is it oversharpened? I think so...a little bit.
see you,
Marc

aloyho (6798) 2009-11-01 23:58

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the visit and the helpful pointers. Its a good guide and much appreciated.
This shot is a nice tribute and I like the BW rendering. I also noticed the detailed planning and patience in this composition. I particularly enjoyed the visual rhythm created by the repeated windows and trees which harmonized beautifully with the theme here.
Great shot!!
Regards and a nice day.

jwmunro (286) 2009-11-05 7:18

Hello Andrew -

I don't know who Willy Ronis was but this image reminds me of those post and pre-war images from France that were in Life and Look magazines. I like the old and minimal feel of the B&W format. Well done!

Thank you for sharing.

John

CLODO (45116) 2009-11-29 1:27

Hi Andrew
Nice B&W picture in the style of Willy Ronis. I also have seen his exhibition in Paris hotel de ville.
TFS
CLODO

trewheeler (1971) 2010-02-11 6:29

An interesting study here that is well presented in B/W. Several things going on, a nice picture to look at and absorb. TFS, TW

macjake (98262) 2010-03-30 10:17

Hi Andrew
a very well textured and sharp photo. the black and white appearance enhances that texture.
love the tall vertical windows and the rounded fences.
well done!
Cheers
craig

Leonie (8809) 2010-05-10 7:19

Hi there, nice to discover your gallery! I like this little piece of parisian life" especially the pigeon is funny! :) Cheers, Léonie

Photo Information

Copyright: Andrew McRae (macondo) (20449)
Genre: Places
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-12-29
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): France, A la mémoire de Willy RONIS, Willy RONIS [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-07 3:23