Of all the photographs I have taken over the years, some of my most prized are the ones that capture moments and details of everyday life that are in their own small, mundane way an intimate self-portrait. A cache of memories with a strong sense of temporality. Photography is my temple, my personal church if you will, as it was for Master photographer Andre Kertesz.

Despite the poor quality of this film, I found listening to Kertesz in his broken German-French-English very moving. A good friend of mine once compared some of my work to that of Kertesz’s and his series of personal ephemera. It was a wonderful compliment, but I didn’t quite understand then how profound that was. Kertesz would have understood why I shoot what I shoot, how the most mundane of things can carry so much meaning, and how fleeting and precious those things really are. Photographers are magicians trying to preserve the impossible.

This 31:45 minute film is worth watching. This is rare footage of one of the early street photographers talking about his craft and his passion. In addition to this film I have also included a gallery of my own treasured photos. I hope you enjoy both.

To read a short biography of Kertesz as written in Bill’s part of our series The History and Art of Street Photography, click here.