“The only essential thing to have if you’re going to be a reasonable photographer is a visual sense—the rest you can learn,” expounds Elliott Erwitt in this new short that takes a peek into the photographer’s effervescent career. Born in Paris to parents of Russian origin, his family moved to the United States in 1939, which meant that Erwitt was able to meet the leading lights behind the camera in New York in the early 1950s, including Robert Capa and Edward Steichen. Upon joining the seminal cooperative photo agency Magnum, Erwitt developed his signature, surrealist penchant for storytelling, even in the documentary medium. The resulting body of images distilled the uncanny in both mundane and celebrity culture. Director Hudson Lines, who has also worked on a series of videos at Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut, gained access to Erwitt’s Upper West Side apartment to trawl through the photographer’s extensive archives and discover what he holds dear—and what he holds in contempt. The new film is set to screen this week at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London as part of the POINT conference, devoted to exploring the theme of Authenticity. 

The POINT 01 Authenticity Conference takes place this May 2-3 at the Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD.