Mood Board

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer whose humane, spontaneous photographs helped establish photojournalism as an art form. He highly contributed to the formation of street photography and is most famous for capturing the ‘decisive moment‘. He first began with painting and art, especially Surrealism. However, his passion for photography grew in 1932. He then also went on to filmmaking. His style can be described as a ‘poetic documentary style’ and his photographs capture meaningful, mysterious and humorous moments which are hard to replicate but very inspirational for aspiring photographers.

The ‘decisive moment‘ results in the magical instant when the world falls into apparent order and meaning, this may be apprehended by a gifted photographer.

In the current day Henri Cartier Bresson’s work is held in multiple locations such as:

• The Museum of Modern Art in New York
• the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
• The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa
• The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

How does Henri Cartier-Bresson view the activity of photography?

• Combine your head (intellectual abilities), your eye (vision), and heart (emotions) on the “same axis”
•  A photograph without emotion, meaning, or a message is a dead photograph

HE SAID TO ASK YOURSELF 3 QUESTIONS…

– What am I trying to say with this?

– What does this photograph mean to me?

– What emotions come forth in this image?

These three questions help to pre-plan and control the image you are going to take. By asking yourself what you are going to say and what emotions it is going to cause prevents it from being a ‘dead‘ photographs and provides it with meaning and depth, which is what Henri Cartier Bresson’s’ photos always consisted of.

My Favourite Quotes.

“For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously… It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression.”

‘Street photography has helped me become more empathetic’

‘Street photography has helped me become more attuned to life’

‘Street photography forces me outside of my comfort zone’

‘Street photography has helped me appreciate the small things of everyday life’

These quotes help me to see Henri’s perspective of how he portrayed his work and how he truly felt when it came to street photography and how it helped him develop and eventually become a full-time career.

Photo Analysis.

Martine Frank-

This photo captures an unusual and interesting angle of Martine Frank. She was a Belgian photographer who was also a member of the Magnum Photos association alongside Cartier Bresson. Her work consisted of capturing the lives of children, women and elderly in their daily lives, and stayed clear of war photography and focused on the love and curiosity of the world and the people living in it. Bresson refused to crop or edit any of his photos as he believed his version was ‘enough‘. He said that photography was the question and also the answer, which is shown in the viewfinder of the camera. He also insisted that the camera is also just an extension of the photographers eye, hand and senses.

The photo consists of Cartier Bresson’s wife Martine poised on a smart couch whilst reading a book. This photo perfectly reflects the style of photography Martine specialised in as it romanticises the life of a woman in a glamourous and mysterious way.

In similarity..

These two images are highly similar and almost portray the relationship between Henri Cartier Bresson and Martine Franck. The two talented photographers were ‘keen observers of the world’. For example, Martine tended to photograph more community based portraits of people whereas Henri focused on vibrant and lively street photography.

In the first photo, Martine Franck is positioned elegantly whilst supposedly waiting for a train whilst majestically sipping a cup of tea and looking into the distance. In the second photo Cartier Bresson is positioned on a railing in Switzerland whilst dressed smartly and looking on into the distance. These two photos show similarities within each other and portray the different styles but equally talented approaches to photography and almost signify the pair as a couple through their work.