Ernst Haas: Letters & Stories

An intimate account of the 20th century's most inventive color photographer, with letters, poems and photographs

Writer Inge Bondi sheds fresh light on the life of her close friend and colleague, the Austrian American photographer Ernst Haas (1921–86), whom she first met in New York’s Magnum offices in 1951. Bondi shares unique memories of this brilliant and very private man alongside reproductions of his letters, poems, photographs and ephemera, revealing for the first time details of his harrowing war years and complex personal life. The book’s 13 chapters cover Haas’ "Homecoming Prisoners of War" story (1947), which prompted Robert Capa to invite him to join Magnum Photos; pioneering color reportage for Life and Vogue, featuring his blurred portraits of bull fighting and saturated images of New York; and his work on film sets, including The Bible, which led to the publication of Haas’ groundbreaking and acclaimed 1971 photobook The Creation.

Inge Bondi (née en 1925) a rejoint Magnum Photos en 1950 et est devenue directrice des projets spéciaux et la seule non-photographe à détenir des actions et des droits de vote dans la célèbre coopérative photographique. Après avoir quitté Magnum en 1970, elle est devenue autrice et enseignante dans le domaine de la photographie.