Ernst Haas

Ernst Haas (March 2, 1921 – September 12, 1986) was an influential photographer noted for his innovations in color photography, experiments in abstract light and form, and as a member of the Magnum Photos agency.

Photography career

Born in Vienna, Austria, Haas attended medical school in Austria, but, in 1947, left to become a staff photographer for the magazine "Heute". His photo essay for the magazine on prisoners of war coming home to Vienna won him acclaim and an offer to join Magnum Photos from Robert Capa. Haas and Werner Bischof were the first photographers invited to join Magnum by the founders Capa, David "Chim" Seymour, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and Bill Vandivert.

Haas moved to New York City and in 1953 produced a 24-page, color photo essay on the city for "Life," which then commissioned similar photo spreads on Paris and Venice. In 1962, the Museum of Modern Art mounted a one-man show of Haas' color photos. Haas' first photo book, "Elements", was published the next year.

In 1964, film director John Huston hired Haas to direct the creation sequence for Huston's 1964 film, . Haas continued working on the theme, producing the photo book, "The Creation" in 1971. Other photography books by Haas included "In America" in 1975, a tribute to his adopted country for its bicentennial year; "Deutschland" in 1977; and "Himalayan Pilgrimage" in 1978. Other films that Haas worked on included "The Misfits" in 1961, "Hello, Dolly!" in 1969, "Little Big Man" in 1970, and "Heaven's Gate" in 1980. Haas also photographed a number of advertising campaigns for Marlboro cigarettes.

In 1986, Haas received the Hasselblad Award for his photography. Haas died in New York City.

Quotations

* A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?Fact|date=February 2007
* I am not interested in shooting new things - I am interested to see things new.Fact|date=February 2007
* There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.Fact|date=February 2007
* With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look at an impression as long as we wish, we can delve into it and, so to speak, renew past experiences at will.Fact|date=February 2007
* My theory of composition? Simple: do not release the shutter until everything in the viewfinder feels just right.Fact|date=February 2007
* Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But you have to see. [ [http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm] A comment made in a 1985 workshop.]
* Best wide-angle lens? Two steps back and look for the "Ah ha!"

References

External links

*
* [http://www.ernst-haas.com/main.html Ernst Haas Studio]
* [http://www.afterimagegallery.com/haas.htm Portfolio of Haas' Creation photos]
* [http://www.webstationone.com/iipa/permanentcollection/haas/index.html IIPA Gallery Collection]