La Chasse
La photo, c’est la chasse, c’est l’instinct de chasse sans l’envie de tuer. C’est la chasse des anges… On traque, on vise, on tire et – clac! au lieu d’un mort, on fait un éternel.
The photo is the hunt, it’s the instinct of hunting without the desire to kill. It’s the hunt of angels… You trail, you aim, you fire and – clic! – instead of a dead man, you make him everlasting.
Die Fotografie ist Jagd, ist der Jagdinstinkt ohne die Lust am Töten. Die Jagd der Engel… Man schleicht sich an, man schießt - und klick! Anstelle eines Toten gibt es einen Verewigten.
– Chris Marker, “Si j’avais quatre dromadaires,” Commentaires 2, 87
2 comments
I love this definition of photography and often think about this concept while shooting … and I recently translated it into english (not knowing it had been done already) and came up with something slighthly different and thought I’d share on this blog: “Photography is hunting, the hunting instinct without the wish to kill. It is angel’s hunting … Tracking, aiming, shooting and - snap ! instead of death you make eternity” …
Excellent, thanks. Once upon a time, CM corrected my rough translation and suggested the word “everlasting.” I like yours too!
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