POLL - That kiss

[Damien_Demolder]

In the magazine this week the 'Icon of Photography' is Doisneau’s ultra famous ‘Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville’ - the couple having a bit of a snog as they walk along the street (link to picture). Many years after the picture was taken it emerged that Doisneau had set the shot up - to quite what extent is not entirely clear - and that the remarkable moment was actually something of a work of fiction.

This week's poll asks Does it matter that Doisneau’s ‘Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville’ was set up? Head to the home page to vote.

Thanks for playing.

Damien

New link inserted - Chris

[Benchista]

Why should it matter?

[Simon_King]

I don't think it matters, what count's is the emotion and atmosphere conveyed by the picture.

By the way the poster link doesn't work, or at least says that poster is no longer for sale.

Cheers
Simon

[El_Sid]

In terms of being a great picture it doesn't matter that it's a set up to whatever degree. It does become more of an issue if it's passed off as or viewers are allowed to assume that it is indeed real as that implies a degree of deceit - plus it doesn't do other photographers any favours as they become frustrated at being unable to catch similar moments of 'spontaneity' in the real world...

[parisian]

I think that the whole genre of 'street photography' would be a damn site poorer without occasional elements of 'set up' being applied.
If lucky circumstance were essential for the purity of the shot then half the stuff we have admired over the years would never have been taken.

[beejaybee]

Meh

[huwevans]

The picture is what it is, of course, and it must surely be granted that we can and perhaps usually just enjoy a photograph in precisely that sense. But, OTOH, I think it's also true that we often admire a shot for what we perceive as the photographer's skill in grabbing it on the spur of the moment, or in anticipating it just right. Or sometimes we just envy them their luck in being at the right place at the right time, and not having their hands full with something else when the moment passed.

Well, whatever. It doesn't really bother me that it was set up.

[gollum]

It is a great picture......but

Remember Hollister?...no...perhaps the Brando film the Wild One, may ring a bell.

The American Federation of Motorcylist, held race's across the USA, Hollister being one of them. Two journalist flew down from New York to cover the event, got bored, so decide to invent a story. To back their story they needed a picture, so they payed a local drunk to sit on a bike outside a bar, scattered a few beer bottles arround....and hey presto you have a picture that made the front cover of most news papers!
The AFM, defending their postion made the statement that 99% of their members were law abiding citizens and so the 1% outlaw biker was born

[Terrywoodenpic]

Does not matter in the least....
she said the Kiss was real.

Most published street pictures have an element of pre-arrangement in them; even if it is only to get someone to look and smile.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

...(link to AllPosters version). ...

Thanks for playing.

Damien

It now seems that the poster is no longer on sale...

[Chris Cool]

...(link to AllPosters version). ...

Thanks for playing.

Damien

It now seems that the poster is no longer on sale...

I've changed the link so it now goes to the site

[Damien_Demolder]

...(link to AllPosters version). ...

Thanks for playing.

Damien

It now seems that the poster is no longer on sale...

I've changed the link so it now goes to the site

I don't know what's the matter with you all. It worked fine for me, see.

[TimF]

Of course it doesn't matter. Most of the best known Picture Post photos were set-up as well. They're still great images, and in the end that's all that counts.

[LargeFormat]

Well it sort of does matter. Whether the resulting picture is staged or spontaneous may not make a difference to the quality of the photograph but it does make a difference to how it is categorised. I have always tended to favour a photograph where the photographer has worked at it to get a particular effect rather than a "lucky" snap but that's just a personal view.

[Barney]

Well it sort of does matter. Whether the resulting picture is staged or spontaneous may not make a difference to the quality of the photograph but it does make a difference to how it is categorised. I have always tended to favour a photograph where the photographer has worked at it to get a particular effect rather than a "lucky" snap but that's just a personal view.

I absolutely agree that it does make a difference but I'd argue that a spontaneous shot carries more weight with me at times than a posed one, especially with regards to street photography.

It's the difference between watching a natural history programme where the crew has laid bait for a tiger and one where the tiger's kill is a natural one, there's a question on integrity. That's not to say that the resulting image isn't a great one, but there's a world of difference between suggesting that a photo was just caught when in fact it was set up. Photography isn't just about the end result, there's a weight of responsibility that goes with the recording of a scene. As long as the situation is honestly reported then the viewer can make up their own mind, but to suggest otherwise, or not to correct when misconstrued, is wrong.

[LargeFormat]

I absolutely agree that it does make a difference but I'd argue that a spontaneous shot carries more weight with at times than a posed one, especially with regards to street photography.

Fair point, I guess it makes a difference what the photograph is about.

As long as the situation is honestly reported then the viewer can make up their own mind

and that's the real point.

[Barney]

I absolutely agree that it does make a difference but I'd argue that a spontaneous shot carries more weight with at times than a posed one, especially with regards to street photography.

Fair point, I guess it makes a difference what the photograph is about.

Oops, I left the "me" out of "carries more weight with me", just to clear it up.

[zx9]

Of course it doesn't matter. Most of the best known Picture Post photos were set-up as well. They're still great images, and in the end that's all that counts.

My thoughts exactly.

[APchris]

We were given a framed copy of this image as a wedding present and it hung on our bedroom wall for many years.

Interestingly enough I'd always thought it was pure street photography, the decisive moment and all that but I've just asked (non photographically inclined) Mrs APchris what her opinion was and she always thought it was set up and is surprised anyone could think otherwise as it "Looks too perfect".

When the set up was revealed it didn't matter to me at all and still doesn't. IMHO Doisneau was creating a representative work of art and not trying to deceive us.

[Steve]

I don't believe it matters that much. I like the ideal of grabbing spontaneous and magical moments on the street as they happen, but if the photograph emotion and makes someone smile, where's the harm?