Street photography & Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson always had his camera with him “even when I don’t plan to take photos” he is reported to have said. I love authentic street photography – candid, life as it is, interesting, real.
I know many like to ‘photo-shop’ or use some other digital technology to manipulate, or enhance their photos in some way to make them more pleasing to their eye. I prefer to show you exactly what I see – including dull skies, power-lines, and other unwanted objects. I want to portray what’s in front of me – as a travel writer I believe that’s my duty: to tell you the truth about what I see and experience so when you go there, you will not be surprised.
So like Cartier-Bresson (but without his skills) I love to ‘walk and shoot.’ This sometimes means I will wait for someone to walk into a frame .. most people don’t know I have taken the photo even though I get as close to the action as possible. When it’s not possible, telephoto lens are wonderful for those candid, unnoticed pics.
So carry your camera, be observant, be patient, and recognise the decisive moment to push the shutter – after all, in photography the smallest thing can be a great subject. No wonder I’m excited to be traveling to somewhere new soon (Borneo) – where I’ll have lots of new, not posed, candid subjects to photograph – and no electronic manipulation.
As my tagline says,” real travel, real stories, real photos”
Kiwi Travel Writer talks food, travel, and tips 