Last night at Lincoln Center, Robert Frank made a rare public appearance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his book The Americans. The place was, predictably, packed with photographers. The Americans is pretty much the book on photography. As one young photographer put it to me outside the theater, “It is the book that shows you what photographs are supposed to look like.” The program included a screening of Frank’s 1959 film Pull my Daisy, excerpts from an upcoming documentary on Robert Frank, and a preview of the 2009 blockbuster museum show on The Americans. The highlight of the evening, though, was the live conversation between journalist Charlie LeDuff and Robert Frank.
LeDuff wrote about his recent trip to China with Frank for Vanity Fair - and after reading that piece, I couldn’t help but worry that he might not be the right kind of interviewer for this event. In my opinion, he wasn’t.
He made a big show of cracking open a beer when he rushed the stage but he quickly lost track of it and, from my vantage point, everything else.
Leduff tried to win the audience over with some bongo playing (didn’t work for me) and tried to impress the audience with his shot at a “deep” question, “Bob, is photography art?” (that didn’t work for me either). I saw photographer Joel Sternfeld go ashen, and the stately Bruce Davidson check his watch every 5 seconds. Eventually, the audience took over and started asking questions of its own. Things picked up from there, and Frank talked about some of his favorite photos. Like this one, Indianapolis, by Robert Frank, from the 50th Anniversary Edition of Robert Frank: The Americans, Published by Steidl, 2008.
You can listen to the whole thing yourself here:
Robert Frank/Charlie LeDuff
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After the event I spoke to a young photography student from Holland who had waited 2 hours in the standby line for the chance to hear her favorite photographer speak - listen:
Outside Lincoln Center
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May 16th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
charlie leduff should be tarred and feathered and dragged the streets after his “performance” last night. our chance to hear the thoughts of one of the world’s greatest photographic talents was marred by leduff’s juvenile, attention-grabbing antics, ill-preparation and ridiculous shoes. shame on lincoln center & steidl for not vetting leduff properly. god bless robert frank for putting up with him for the sake of the audience. and god bless the free wine. we sure needed it.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I think people were too ready for another typical q&a given by an art critic. Charlie LeDuff was asked by Robert Frank to be on stage with him. In fact, he wouldn’t have participated without him. It turned out that Robert was more talkative and lively during this event. Why doesn’t someone ask Robert what he thought about it? The last comment was so violent, rude, and unfair. What else can you expect from the stodgy new york art scene these days which are not the good old days.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Charlie LeDuff’s complete lack of regard for the situation he was in and his thoroughly self-centered behavior onstage at Lincoln Center was in the erratic manner of someone with a great big Vincent Gallo-envy problem. He did not show the least bit of respect for his “friend” Robert Frank. Basically, LeDuff came off as a totally manic, completely unprepared clown.
One truly had to be there to believe that this train-wreck was actually happening. The crowd was heckling LeDuff non-stop. How on earth did this total doofus manage to charm his way into Old Man Frank’s life?
“Non-stodgy viewer”, who posted above, was likely a member of the obnoxious Charlie LeDuff contingent (which included LeDuff’s far too proud, parolee-looking brother), seated in my row during the event on the night of 05.15.08. Out-of-towners, out of their element, and in just a bit over their heads with what was going on around them. Telling that not one of them, nor LeDoof itself, stuck around for drinks afterwards–they likely would have been seriously called out by the angry Lincoln Center audience.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Never mind the American flag capezios or his lack of preparation, the best LeDuff moment was when Frank asked him what his favorite image was from The Americans. LeDuff couldn’t say, even though he “profiled” Frank for Vanity Fair. When LeDuff couldn’t think of something, he harassed some guy in the sixth row, “to throw the book like a frisbee.” If LeDuff had ANYTHING to say, or any notion of how to interview someone, no one would have cared about his antics. It’s has nothing to do with being “non-stodgy,” but some minimum level of competence, of which LeDuff had no clue. Completely embarrassing.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am
With all do respect, the above blogger happens to be wrong on a few points. Nevertheless, what makes America great is that we can have our own viewpoint, style, and way of taking in information, especially with forces beyond our individual control in a crowd. Peace to all.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Sorry I meant to say “With all due respect”
May 19th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
What points was I wrong about? The shoes? Nope. The lack of preparation? Don’t think so. He couldn’t name one image in the book. His interview skills? He had none. His general competence? Not likely. Sure we can all have our own opinion, and ways of “taking information in,” but how anyone could gain anything from this “interview” (and I listened to this a second time)is beyond me.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Mr. LeDuff should be ashamed of himself.
He was ill-prepared, rude, unprofessional.
What a waste of a rare opportunity.
There are so many others who could have done this better than he did.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Oops! I actually meant the blogger before you. If I may add to your comments, though, I found that LeDuff brought out of Robert Frank new info on photos as accidents, RF’s feelings on Kerouac, people of color, his limited/nonexistent interactions with the subjects, his new york/america, and was able to see his wit and charm. So, maybe there were some that gained insight into a private man’s mind and voice.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:03 am
who does this LeDuff guy think he is?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I found the interview just fine. If people think LeDuff acted like a clown, well that is their opinion. He pulled some things out of Frank others might not have. If that is who Frank wanted on stage then so be it, but please to say other could have done better, who, name them…I am curious, and I doubt Frank would have let them on the stage. Re-read LeDuff’s article. After reading it ask yourself, would Robert Frank wanted someone who would have lobbed softball, reverential, saccharine questions? No, he would not have. You may have wanted Robert Frank to be sentimental, but there is no way he would have been….who would have been the right person? I am curious.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:37 am
You guys are all morons, this was great. Just because no one asked what shutter speed and apature he used doesn’t make it a bad interview. I’m glad they didn’t take the interview so serious, because all of you take things way to serious. have some fun relax. there was a lot of great information in this interview and if you would just get over your cocky attitudes you’ll see a typical informative interview.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
You know “non stodgy viewer” you’re trying to defend something that was so incredibly improper, and in VERY poor taste. Listen to it again, if you have to. Its really bad, this in NYC and this is not the place to toy around, professionalism should be at its highest ESPECIALLY at LINCOLN CENTER!!
May 24th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Didn’t see it. But know that LeDuff and Frank are friends. The tasteful, highly informed interview that some of you craved might be just the thing Frank DID NOT WANT. The old man rarely does interviews. Doesn’t like them. Frank devotees can project their own sensibility on their hero. The hero, however, has his own life to live.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Well for me as a native German speaker and thru the language barrier, I found LeDuff first very noneprofessional, partly rude, and when it came to the pictures he looked incompetend. So I thought everything what was here complained about before. But on the other hand I felt, that in a way he was the same shy as Robert Frank was. He was very self-concious and tried to hide this, behind all his strange behavior. The reason, as I saw it was, he admired Master Frank so much. At least he made Frank speak. Robert Frank was never very talkativ in public and I guess in a way he got really something out of him. Maybe he was more successfull as a smooth intellectual and well prepared interviewer would have been. So the audience should forgive him, that guy LeDuff was simple very unsettled by the honor.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 am
Wow, this interview was worse than I imagined. Robert Frank was marvelous under rather difficult circumstances. Charlie LeDuff was so unprofessional that his performance was beyond atrocious. Nick tries to defend LeDuff’s above, but can’t spell the word aperture. People who do photography or know even a little about photography usually know that word. Sadly, LeDuff comes across as someone who can’t spell aperture either.