Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated portrait and street photographers. His images in the world are famous, and familiar. He has worked with the world’s most popular newspapers and magazines. In fact, he was one among the founders of Magnum Agency, the world’s first independent photography agency.Before Cartier-Bresson started working as a photographer, he studied painting which possibly gave him considerable knowledge of the concepts of composition. Afterwards he switched to other newspapers. He worked primarily as a photographer after 1931, but also as Jean Renoir’s assistant in filmmaking. He turned to drawing after doing all he could in painting, and dedicated it to the last years of his life.
Cartier-Bresson developed the ‘decisive moment’ idea. He established it at a period when photography was still a relatively modern form of art. This means the situations can never arise in the same atmosphere, and the photographer needs to be careful, but still quick and still ready to take a shot. Take a camera, then head out! Observe the world around, and use the crucial moment’s thought to create what he calls a “decisive momet”.
Henri Cartier-Bresson puts a major focus on the importance of preparation and eye-training. Every experience and every picture shot helps affirm this long and continuous cycle of creating a special photographic vocabulary of its own. You don’t even have to bring your camera or phone with you all the time for that. A very powerful way to practise the vision is to imagine continuously how objects around you will look in a picture. A sort of look through the viewfinder without clicking the camera’s shutter button. That is a really fun and informative way to look at the universe at the same time.
A photographer and blogger, Eric Kim points out 10 things about Henri Cartier- Bresson’s photography style and how to achieve it.
1. Focus on geometry
2. Be patient
3. Travel
4. Stick to one lens
5. Take photographs of folks
6. Be unobtrusive
7. See the world like a painter
8. Don’t crop
9. Don’t worry about processing
10. Always strive for more
Reference: ERIC. (2017). 5 Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography Composition Lessons. [online] Available at: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2017/12/16/5-henri-cartier-bresson-photography-composition-lessons/
Art (2015). HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON :: THE DECISIVE MOMENT. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKV0TQULMY
ERIC KIM. (2011). 10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography. [online] Available at: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/08/22/10-things-henri-cartier-bresson-can-teach-you-about-street-photography/.
ERIC KIM. (2011). 10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography. [online] Available at: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/08/22/10-things-henri-cartier-bresson-can-teach-you-about-street-photography/.
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