Submitted by pgraber on July 30, 2006

For those who've never heard of him, Henri Cartier-Bresson has long been considered the 'greatest living photographer'. Although he recently passed away in very old age, he left a breadth of outstanding work in the field. He's was a pioneering photographic artist. His work defined what's today known as photojournalism.

Cartier-Bresson's most famous and lauded photograph was an image of man jumping over a puddle in a rail yard. The shot is considered by many as one of the greatest photographs of all time. Here is a copy of it:

Cartier-Bresson specialized in natural-light, 50mm photography. Click here to see and learn about his life and work.

Recently on a trip to Wrightsville Beach, NC to do some wedding planning, we stopped by the restaurant where we'll be having our rehearsal dinner - The Bluewater Inn. While having lunch dockside, I snapped the shot below. I think it contains some elements similar to Bresson's famous work, if only a few. Kind of a throwback. (Shot at 70mm/f18/100)

One thing Cartier-Bresson tried to teach other photographers is to use their instincts and to look (feel) for the 'decisive moment'. More often than not, in their pursuit of mechanical perfection and the resultant hesitation, they miss the shot entirely. Cartier-Bresson always stressed 'take the shot!'. He was the master of the decisive moment.

This is much easier said than done.

According to Bresson, "To take a photograph means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organisation of visually perceived forms that give it meaning." In laymen's terms, it's called fleeting reality. You hestitate, you miss it.

I think that's what I did somehow in the shot above - if only in a small way. If I would have thought about of the other things (focus, aperature, etc) I would have missed it. I shot anyway.

Take the shot!!!!

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