On Readers and Writers – A tribute

An apology for the intrusion

When I joined Substack, I was a little apprehensive. I have been looking for a home where fellow photographers, and those interested in photography might camp. I am painfully aware that Substack is for writers and readers, and that I am the intruder here. I apologize for this. But, I thoroughly enjoy being here.

Søren Harbel: Torino, Italy

I can read great things from other photographers and in turn show and see photography posted by enthusiastic and positively minded fellow photographers. As a bonus, I can enjoy great writing and find writers that I might not find anywhere else. It has been a real pleasure.

I have been thinking how I could do something that might be appreciated by all the writers and readers here. My small contribution to writers and readers on Substack. I selected a small group of my photographs of readers. I was thinking that if we have the writers and readers here, perhaps it would be fun to see some of the readers out there.

Søren Harbel: Paris, France

I was inspired by two books. One by Andre Kertész from 1971 and a brand new book by David Hurn, which was published this year. The story of the two books, both called “On Reading”, is terrific.

Søren Harbel: Florence, Italy

Back in 1971, Andre Kertész one of the great masters of photography published a book called “On Reading”. It is a small collection of photographs made over a 50+ year career and assembled for the first time from the thousands of photographs Kertész made during his illustrious career. Every photograph shows someone reading, or has a reference to books and reading.

In 1983, when the Magnum photographer David Hurn - who turned 90 this year - was one of the photographers contributing to the book “A Day in the Life of London”, he met Andre Kertész for the first time. Kertész was 89 years old at the time and Hurn felt he should take the senior Master under his wing and suggested they work together that day.

Søren Harbel: Bologna, Italy

As they got to know each other a little, Hurn told Kertész that one of his favourite books was Kertész’s book “On Reading”. In Hurn’s own words: “I met up with him [Kertész] for breakfast in a hotel in South Kensington. I told him that one of my favourite books was his, small in size, ‘On Reading’, first published in 1971 - Kertész’s father was a bookseller - after much chatting and laughing, I suggested, that if he gave his permission, I would re-do the book when I was 89. He gave his permission.”

David Hurn just published his version of the book, also called “On Reading”.

Hurn’s book is published by RRB and is available now, and the book by Kertész is available on the secondary market in various versions. Mine is from a Spanish publisher Periférica & Errata Naturae from 2008. Both these titles are worth looking for and getting to round out your library.

The photographs in this post are my photographs of readers with a thank you for allowing me to hang out on Substack:

Søren Harbel: Genoa, Italy

Søren Harbel: Venice, Italy

Søren Harbel: Torino, Italy