Blog 2: Visual essay

"We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing, and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory."

— Henri Cartier-Bresson

A street scene in the southern French town of Hyères in 1932.  

Credit Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos, courtesy Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

This is a famous photograph taken by Henri Cartier Bresson who is one of the best photographers. It is a great example of "decisive moment" as Bresson described in his article. In the foreground, we can see stairs in the composition are following golden rules and nice tone. The best part in this photograph is the moving bicycle which was snapped at the exact moment. The accidental object makes the photograph becomes lively and vivid. All the composition which follows the rule of third makes this photograph becomes a good photo as it is. 

 

“Faith and Confidence” is the best photo I have ever seen in my life. I like it not only because its composition but also how utterly simple it is. I chose it because not only does it represent childhood innocence but it represents great photography. The foreground of this photo is focus on the child and police men. It has perspective as its background which was filled with people was blurred. The photographer, William C. Beall, has truly stopped time in this photo to capture a perfect moment. You know you have a great photo when not only has the photographer captured a perfect moment but is having that moment tell the viewer a story at the same time. By taking a photograph of this exact moment we can study the behavior of the child and police men whereas if we had been there the moment would have only lasted a few seconds or less. The capture of this image allows the viewers to think about humanity and behavior as a whole and how children view the world as a wondrous place.

 

This is a photograph called V-J Day in times Square. It was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt it is an image of a US sailor kissing his girlfriend on return from the US - Japan war. The iconic photograph marks the end of the war and it shows how those affected felt. The photographer has done very well here to capture this image as everybody will have been rushing round and lots will have been happening. He has therefore done well to take this photograph, in capturing this moment he has captured the feelings of thousands of Americans at the time.

 

One of the most famous photographs of the Vietnam War era is without a doubt "Burst of Joy", showing the family of Lt. Col. Robert Stirm rushes to greet him at Travis Air Force Base. This photo was taken by photographer Slava Veder. The best part of this photo is the the expression on kids and wife's face, we were like their onlookers who could truly feel the joy of their reunions. 

Resource:
http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/decisive_moment.htm
https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/decisive-moment
https://petapixel.com/2013/05/22/on-the-constant-moment/
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/dec/23/henri-cartier-bresson-the-decisive-moment-reissued-photography#img-1
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/obituaries/archives/henri-cartier-bresson-photography