Capturing Reality

Behind the Gare St. Lazare

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“The photograph itself doesn’t interest me.  I want only to capture a minute part of reality.”  Those were the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, considered by many to be a pioneer in photojournalism.  After discovering an interest in photography after receiving a camera as a souvenir from Japan, Howard Greenberg spent much of his time in a dark room to print what he had captured.  “There is a thrill of printing…especially with multiples…I played with layering images so that there was something there that could not be seen in reality,” he said with a slight grin.  “There’s a freedom to work and play within that world.”  Greenberg, much like he developed his own insights into the world of photography, paved his own way to meeting artists, learning history and culture, and building himself a career that he loves.

He has a very calm demeanor as he tells his biography, sometimes letting the corners of his mouth raise a bit.  His face becomes more animated as he describes the photographers of the images around the room; he has met most of them personally which gives the photos another dimension.  Though clearly knowledgeable about his field, it is his commitment to his passion and emphasis on human interaction that makes him memorable.  He said, “If you’re engaged in what you’re engaged in, things will happen.”  He told us how it was lucky that the small image of Cartier-Bresson’s Behind the Gare St. Lazare was found after it fell out of a book—a hidden gem.  Some events are serendipitous, but it is passion and drive that turn “minute parts of reality” into a continuing journey of thrills and inspiration.