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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2002-10-07
Review: 'Slightly Out of Focus' by Robert Capa
What Photographers Should Be Reading
By Jim McNay, Brooks Institute of Photography
"Slightly Out of Focus" is a so-called autobiography by Capa long out of print and now brought back with a contextual essay by Capa biographer Richard Whelan.
The "so-called" fits because Capa admitted he was not solely out to set down an accurate record of events with this book. On the original dust jacket of the 1947 edition, Capa wrote, "Writing the truth being obviously so difficult, I have in the interests of it allowed myself to go sometimes slightly beyond and slightly this side of it. All events and persons in this book are accidental and have something to do with the truth."
Whelan notes Capa hoped the volume would not be considered accurate history, but would serve as the basis for a successful screenplay. (As part of the promotion for the book the International Center of Photography has not issued, "Capa was Hollywood before Hollywood was Cool!" bumper stickers.)
For the full account of Capa's life with all the good stuff and bad stuff left in the story, readers should follow up with Whelan's 1985 full treatment, "Robert Capa: A Biography."
The story Capa sets down is still worthwhile and revealing. It jumps straight into his World War II coverage with slight reference to his earlier work that opened the door for the chance to cover the war in Europe. Included are excellent examples of pictures he made during this time. While rarely referred to directly in the text, the photographs give a good understanding of the work Capa was doing in the circumstances he describes. Included is his account of the famous D-Day landing, and four of the eight frames that survived the well-known darkroom accident where his negatives were overheated in a London film dryer.
Every beginning photojournalist knows of Capa's famous counsel: "If your pictures are not good enough, you're not close enough." More than simply spinning this phrase as a bon mot he lived the principle. Once after photographing wounded airmen returning from a mission, he decided staying behind the lines waiting for injured soldiers was not for him. "This sort of photography was only for undertakers, and I didn't like being one. If I was to share the funeral, I swore, I would have to share the procession."
Of course Capa being Capa, there are many lighter moments throughout the story. He includes his embarrassment at stepping into a minefield to relieve himself and having to be lead out by demolition experts. There are numerous exploits with Hemingway and gallons of liquor consumed. Capa is certainly candid here.
And thankfully this new version addresses Capa's most famous picture of the "Falling Soldier" and the myth of it being an arranged photograph.
There is nothing quite like reading what the personality had to say in telling the story of his or her life. This is a fine starting point in understanding one of photojournalism's masters.
Related Links:
Slightly Out of Focus
Robert Capa: A Biography
Jim McNay's member page
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