Bill Brandt, a seminal figure in 20th-century British photography, employed a diverse array of cameras throughout his career, each chosen to align with his evolving artistic vision. His selection of equipment was instrumental in shaping the distinctive aesthetic of his work, from stark social documentaries to surreal nudes and evocative landscapes. Early Career: Zeiss-Ikon Miroflex In the late 1920s, Brandt began his photographic journey with a Zeiss-Ikon Miroflex , a medium format single-lens reflex camera that utilized glass negatives measuring approximately 6.5 x 9 cm. This camera allowed him to compose images meticulously, either at eye level or using a waist-level viewfinder, facilitating both candid street scenes and carefully arranged compositions. Zeiss-Ikon Miroflex Documentary Work: Rolleiflex During the 1930s and early 1940s, Brandt extensively used a Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera. Its 6x6 cm format and high-quality optics made it ideal for his social d...
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera" - Dorothea Lange