DAY 73

FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004)

CAPTURING THE “DECISIVE MOMENT”

Henri Cartier-Bresson is known as the father of modern photojournalism, a master of capturing candid moments through his technique of stealth photography and his philosophy of the “decisive moment.” An early adopter of 35mm, he painted his Leica camera black to allow for further anonymity, with the ability to capture candid, spontaneous, dynamic moments without being noticed. Photographs were instant drawings in his mind; not surprising, considering his background as a French classical painter.

Although claimed by the world of fine art, he was a magazine photojournalist first, and spent three decades photographing the great political upheavals of his era, including the Spanish Civil War, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the liberation of Indonesia from the Dutch, and China’s conversion to Communism. He began working as a photographer during World War II and was captured by the Nazis. After his escape 35 months later, he worked for the underground movement, helping other escapees.

In 1947, Cartier-Bresson joined forces with a group of influential photographers, including Robert Capa, William Vandivert, David “Chim” Seymour, and George Rodger to form the Magnum Photos agency. The cooperative agency split assignments among the members while fulfilling their mission of serving humanity by using photography to feel the pulse of the times.

Although Cartier-Bresson photographed some of the most important political events and public figures of his time, his most renowned images are of seemingly inconsequential moments of ordinary life, flawlessly captured, at the peak of action. —GC