I've but recently discovered the photographs of the late Ernst Haas. I find his work fascinating, both the B&W and color. I understand that he used only the 35mm format and only the Leica. Most of what I've seen seems to have been made with lenses that were neither wide-angle nor tele but somewhere in the "normal" range. Can anyone provide more info about the lenses and film he used? Did he only use a rangefinder [much of what he photographed seems best suited to the SLR]?

-- John (mymacv@aol.com), May 05, 2002

Answers

At one time I poured over Ernst Haas's THE CREATION, a book of color photographs taken in large part in southern Utah, where Ernst Haas as a movie camera man spent a lot of time on location. My memory is that he use Leicaflex equipment exclusively.

-- Richard Schramm (r.schramm@worldnet.att.net), May 05, 2002.

His early B&W work in Vienna (leading to the Magnum connection)was done with a Rolleiflex, for which, it is said, his brother traded a pack of cigarettes. Other than that, I believe he used Leica and Leicaflex exclusively, with Kodachrome 1 and 2.

-- Willhelmn (wmitch3400@hotmail.com), May 05, 2002.

In "The Creation" and "Venice" Haas mentioned use of M3's and also Pentax with Micro-Nikkor 50mm and the Leicaflex.

-- jason gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), May 05, 2002.

I suspect a lot of photographers who were working during hte introductory period of the SLR (c. 1955-65) did a lot of thrashing around trying stuff from various manufacturers. I believe EH did credit both Nikon and Pentax for some of his shots.

In his American pictures book ('In America'?) there are pictures taken with every focal length from a 21 to the 400 Telyt (Chicken crossing the road - Albuquerque strip under thunderstorm, e.g.)

His early '50's blurred color work and "New York" essay are mostly with a screw-mount Leica and 50, with some 35 and 90 thrown in (at least according to the 30-year-old Time/Life LOP book "Color").

Kodachrome I, Kodachrome II (he froze a thousand rolls or so in 1974 when K25 replaced it) and finally K25. But certainly "The Creation" was all pre-K25 since it was printed before the film existed.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 05, 2002.

I bought two of his books last year; In Germany and Color Photography. Both beautiful books that I would encourage anyone with an interest in color photography to take a look at. In the back of in Germany he says:

>>> Except for the handy little Leica table top tripod, I have not used tripods in connection with the photographs published in this book... I try to keep my equipment to a minimum... A final word on lenses:I used 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, 135mm and 180mm Leica lenses. What I love about Leica lenses is that they are so incredibly sharp and clear, without ever becoming too harsh. Sharpness alone is not enough. <<<

He also mentions that the only filter he uses is occasionally a polarization filter when needed. Cheers!

-- Gil Pruitt (wgpinc@yahoo.com), May 05, 2002.

Take a look at his website, there's a lot of good stuff and especially his writing about photography.

http://www.ernsthaasstudio.com/index2.html

-- (exclusive2401@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

Sorry, I forget to input my name above.

-- VC (exclusive2401@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

Dear John,

Ernst Haas originally used a IIIf then an M3 with 50 and 135 lenses; Subsequently a Leicaflex with 28 50 & 90 lenses.

He was crazy about the original Kodachrome and when it was to be discontinued bought all stock he could find but eventually was forced to use Kodachrome II.

I share his sentiments although my preference is for KII. I have many tranys on that stock and today projected properly outclass K25 and certainly the E6 films.

Best wishes with your pursuit.

Sincerely,

Justin Scott

-- Justin Scott (jcdscott@bigpond.net.au), May 06, 2002.

A few months before his death, Haas gave a talk at Rochester Institute of Technology, which has a large photography program. Wish I remembered more of what he had to say. He showed a lot of slides. At one point, an early color image came up and he commented that it was made on Kodachrome. If it was shot on Ektachrome, he said, it would no longer exist. The hall erupted in applause. This, of course, in the home city of Kodak.

-- Carl Pultz (cpultz@earthlink.net), May 06, 2002.