It is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as a precise organization of forms, which give that event its proper expression.
Henri Cartier-Bresson famously defined a style and theory
of photography with the phrase "the decisive moment.”
He explained, "It is the simultaneous recognition, in a
fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well
as a precise organization of forms, which give that event its
proper expression." Generations of photographers have
taken his words to heart, shooting frames with this sort of
composition in mind. This gallery presents great “decisive
moments” in time, as captured by Magnum photographers.
PARIS—Place de l’Europe, Gare St. Lazare, 1932.
Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson writes, “There was a
plank fence around some repairs behind the Gare St.
Lazare train station. I happened to be peeking through a gap
in the fence with my camera at the moment the man jumped.
The space between the planks was not entirely wide enough
for my lens, which is the reason why the picture is cut off on
the left.”
Famously displayed in his Afghan girl photo, Steve McCurry possesses an uncanny ability to unveil his subject. As a master of light, color, and composition, he strives not to display his own prowess, but to bring to light the soul of his subject.
Fashion Magazine
by Bruce Gilden
Like a bull in a china shop, Bruce Gilden lets loose with Fashion Magazine, a high-concept, tongue-in-cheek take on the glossy conventions of the fashion world. In the seven-part magazine, Gilden recasts the world of beauty and glamour through his up-close and aggressive street photography style.
David Hurn’s Land of My Father showcases the strength of Welsh culture and history in images that conjure up what life for his father must have been like, as well as the modern transformation of industry and contemporary social changes.