Henri Cartier-Bresson
French · 1908–2004
Pioneer of modern photojournalism and co-founder of Magnum Photos, who defined "the decisive moment" as the foundation of street photography.
Wikipedia ↗“To photograph is to hold one's breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality.”
English
“Photographier, ce n'est pas seulement voir, c'est ressentir.”
French
“Photographing is not just seeing, it is feeling.”
“De tous les moyens d'expression, la photographie est le seul qui fixe à jamais l'instant précis et transitoire.”
French
“Of all the means of expression, photography is the only one that fixes forever the precise and transitory instant.”
“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.”
English
“En photographie, la plus petite chose peut être un grand sujet. Le petit détail humain peut devenir un leitmotiv.”
French
“In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little, human detail can become a leitmotiv.”
“Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast.”
English
“The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.”
English
“La photographie n'a pas changé depuis son origine, si ce n'est dans ses aspects techniques, ce qui pour moi n'est pas une préoccupation majeure.”
French
“Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not a major concern.”
“The world is going to pieces and people like Adams and Weston are photographing rocks!”
English
A famous jab at pure aestheticism, reflecting Cartier-Bresson's commitment to engaged photojournalism.
“C'est une illusion que les photos se font avec l'appareil. Elles se font avec l'œil, le cœur, la tête.”
French
“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera. They are made with the eye, heart, and head.”
“Vos dix mille premières photographies sont les pires.”
French
“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”