The first docu. I didn't have patience to finish; the second one is actually quite old - I've have it on DVD for some years - a gift from a Spanish waiter who is a photo-fan - and I've watched it repeatedly, much as I have the Annie L. one that I have here. I say that about the second (AA) film, because it starts in exactly the same way as the one I have; I don't intend to watch it all again right now, so there might be changes further along, but if all we end up with is a re-edit, it would be of value to first-time audiences only...
I don't think photographers always make good subjects for film. What grabs the attention, when it does, is quite possibly the voice of the person doing the narrative, decent images being a prerequisite, of course, along with good camerawork and how it manages (or not) to make the most of the photographs being shown.
Some years ago there was a couple of films on the 60s snappers shown on the Beeb, and they were very interesting if Bailey, Donovan et al. are your thing - they were mine. Later, several years down the line, a movie about Bailey and Shrimpton was made, The British are Coming (?) using actors, and though quite convincing if you allowed your mind to wander, such things end up feeling vaguely unreal. Which, of course, they are.
Difficult medium to crack - at least, for photographic audiences. Or not.
Rob C
