'The Decisive Moment'This concept has been the bane of my existence since it was first brought to my attention in 2004. A French Photographer named Henri Cartier-Bresson coined the term back in the 20th century.
"The simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression....in photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little human detail can become a leitmotif." — Henri Cartier-Bresson[7]
With this revelation began decades of pain and anguish for photographers around the world. It’s not a notably profound statement but like most things, if it doesn’t have a name it doesn’t exist.
I (and many others I’m sure) don’t have any problem seeing these ‘perfect moments’ with our eyes. Most of the time I can even see them coming. What I find difficult is deciding to shoot. I guess that’s why it’s called the Decisive moment and not ‘the perfect moment’ or ‘the most interesting moment’, because it’s just as much about who’s behind the camera as it is what’s in front of the camera. I could sit on a bench with you anywhere in the world and point out countless moments all day long but it’s worth nothing without the photograph to seal it in time. It’s like a painter who can see the most stunning picture in their heads but couldn’t paint you an orange if asked.
Sure, three times out of ten I might
manage to capture the better half of a decisive moment and sometimes even the whole thing but I still have a long way to go. Practice brings pain and perfection and so on.Still there is a certain grim satisfaction in noticing every moment you’ve just missed. Maybe I could coin the term ‘the indecisive moment’.
It’s not unlike interaction with people really. Everyone remembers missed opportunities to seize the moment. Tell someone how you really feel, or strike up conversation with the intriguing stranger on the bus who tilted their head and smiled in a certain way. My personal favourite is watching your friend light the wrong side of a cigarette. You see it coming and in your head you’re already warning them. Yet the moment comes and goes and it’s not until they’ve taken the first puff of burning plastic before you manage to actually take action.
I wrote the majority of this article over a year ago and i'm delighted to say i feel confident i am close to 'seeing the light'. I think i've stumbled into the door, i just need to find the damn knob...
pics and words by Ruwan De Silva
