In 1962, he becomes a free
lance reporter.
He works first for the
American movie industry in « Le jour le plus long » and
« Cleopatra ».
He then concentrates on
political, social, and human subjects: « Noël in Berlin », « The strikes at
Decazeville », « Italian peasants », « Old age ».
From a trip to Black Africa,
he brings back en 1963 thousands of images, which will form the basis for the Photothèque
of the Ministère de la Coopération and will be exhibited at the Musée de
l’Homme, in Paris, before being shown in the rest of France and worldwide.
His photographies are
exhibited in the newspapers and magazines of more than fifty countries, and are
distributed by Camera Press of London, whose correspondent he is in Paris.
In 1966, he is honored with
the Gens d’images award for his book « Au hasard des femmes » and the
publishing of a book on prostitution, « La célébration des putains ».
In September 1966, a French
TV show, « Chambre noire », hosted by A. Plecy and M. Tournier, devotes
to him one of their programs.
In
1967,
he participates to the show « Tendance de la jeune photographie
française », at the Bibliothèque Nationale
of Paris.
In 1968, he works on an
advertisement campaign for Olivetti in France, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium. He
is part of the “Exposition mondiale de la photographie” organized by Karl Pawek
and of the show “Paris Mai 68” organized
by the Club Photographique de Paris, the 30/40, of which, he is also a member
of the directory. He also has a one man show at the FNAC in Paris.
In 1969 and 1970, in
parallel to his activities as a reporter-photographer, he starts a career as a
film maker. He authors, for the British television, a piece on the French
presidential elections. He is also the co-director of two short commercial films
on the 24 Hours of the Mans, and horse racing. He directs, with his wife, a short
color documentary on the reunited Jerusalem, and also produces several other
pieces.
In 1973, he produces for
the French television a program on portrayal, «La tête de l’homme » (“The
head of Man”).
He opens, with his wife Nicole,
the first bistrot dedicated to photography in Paris: a meeting place which he
livens up and where he organizes shows, every month, over a period of four
years. In 1974, he edits a
portfolio of 10 photographies on the thematic of the couple. Conference at
Chalon-sur-Saône at the Europhot on the thematic of portrait. His photographies
are still distributed worldwide by Camera Press in London.
In 1983, show in Vienne
(France) also on the thematic of portrait. This show will travel through
France.
From 1976 to 1993, he
becomes an antiques dealer, specializing in collectible ancient photography and
cameras.
Since the 1980’s he is an
expert certified by the Union française des Experts (U F E).
In 1991 he opens at the Paul Bert (Saint Ouen) flea market the first
galerie dedicated to photography.
From 1994 to 1996 private marchand.
In 1996, commissary of the show
“Le PLM d’Edouard Baldus” in Vienne (Isère).
Editing of the book
« Jamais deux fois le même regard » regarding the photographies of
his private collection.
En 1998, he assists his son
in the creation of the Galerie Laurent Herschtritt in the heart of Saint
Germain des Près.
In November 2001 Laurent and
he are the experts of the first auction sale of photojournalism at the Salle
Drouot (photographies of Natchway, Henri Cartier Bresson, Capa, and Doisneau …).
In November 2002 second
auction : « Le photojournalisme aux enchères » preceded by a
show at the mansion of the comte Aguado, founding member of the SFP (currently
the city hall of the 9° arrondissement of Paris) followed by an important sale
of XIX century photographies (printings of Nadar).
In 2004 and 2005 he takes
over from his son Laurent and directs with his wife the Galerie Nicole et Léon
Herschtritt (shows: Paris nostalgia, The American photography, Master pieces of
the XIX century….)
In 2006, he celebrates his 50 years in photography, organizes the Hans Sylvester show on the Omo tribes (Ethiopie) at the Cordeliers, and participates in a collective show in the fall at the Bibliothèque Nationale.
He prepares a personal show, and he is editing several books based on his
photographic works « Paris des années 60 », « Portraits connus
et inconnus », « Au hasard des femmes », « Noël à
Berlin ».