U-M vs. Northwestern, 1960, by Henri Cartier-Bresson
Forgive me if this has been discussed here before. Meant to post this a while back, but I wanted to track down the image first. I saw the Henri Cartier-Bresson retrospective at the MOMA earlier this summer, and while many of the photos were from the great French photojournalist's most famous series of works--the Spanish Civil War, Gandhi's funeral, the fall of the Kuomintang to the Communists in China--there was also this one from 1960, captioned "Ann Arbor, Michigan," depicting a crowd at the Big House watching the Wolverines host Northwestern:
http://moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/theme…
Cartier-Bresson's work is all about capturing "the decisive moment," as he termed it. Could this be the very first photographic evidence of Angry Michigan BLANK-Hating God in action?
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
That link took me to the main page for the exhibit. I think this is a direct link to the picture:
http://moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/chronology/1960/97.html
Nice find.
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 PM ^
Photography, that is, not HCB. Work in beer and/or brewing, and I hit the trifecta.
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
I never knew this existed, thank you. (Two of my obsessions also - photogrphay and CFB).
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Talk about capturing a feeling I know everyone here has felt. Great photo.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
And the coach of Northwestern that day in 1960? None other than future legend Ara Parseghian.
And who was one of Ara's assistants for the '56-57 seasons? None other than future legend Bo Schembechler.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
Anyone notice what the woman (second row back from the left) is holding? Out in the open, the good ol' days.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^
Looks like it was taken right after a 3rd-down stop.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
Those folks certainly don't look like "down-in-fronters" delicately sipping Chardonnay. More like pounding down a beer-and-a-shot instead. We need to get more of them into the Big House. Crank up the time machine....
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
Actually, I think it's likely that these are the same people who sit in those seats now.
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
... are a scholar and a gentleman.
HCB is one of my favorite photographers; let's hope for more than a few decisive moments on Saturday...
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
... from this larger version, we can learn at least three things:
1. Northwestern big gain or stopped Michigan. Guy with Michigan pennant is seated, woman drinking whiskey is disappointed, guy obscured holding Northwestern pennant is excited.
2. That's a cigar case, not for glasses.
3. Michigan's affirmative action initiatives had not yet been fully implemented.
It is really an unbelievable shot. No one looking at the camera, save for the guy to the left of the woman's right hand. He is clearly a Man in Black, doing advanced scouting for landing the Mothership at the Big House.
HCB did NOT use telephoto lenses as a rule; he was very close to his subjects....
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
We can also tell that the game was played in very late October/very early NOvember - look at the trim around the hat in the lower right corner. And yes, the man in black is pretty creepy.
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
for not sharing this info prior to the closing of the exhibition!!
Very cool pic. As a Wolverine who has spent a lot of time in France, this is a really special find.
Merci (quand meme).