「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」The person who captures time – Henri Cartier-Bresson

When the shutter of a Leica camera freezes in an instant, Henri Cartier-Bresson becomes the capturer of time.

This pioneer of modern street photography has reshaped the boundaries of documentary photography with the “decisive moment” theory. The core idea is that the essence of photography lies in precisely capturing the true moment that combines both the appearance and the essence within a fraction of a second. The purity of refusing post-processing and allowing each frame to be full of vitality is the key.

As the founder of Magnum Photos, he traveled the world with his camera, capturing the scars of post-war reconstruction in Europe, the hustle and bustle of the streets in India, as well as the joys, sorrows, and emotions of strangers on the street. He preferred the 50mm standard lens and used meticulous composition to extract order from the chaotic daily life.

The greatness ofBresson lies not only in his technological innovations, but also in his ability to make photography a philosophical practice for understanding human nature. Through his lens, he proved that ordinary moments can be elevated to eternity. This gaze on time and existence still guides the humanistic direction of documentary photography to this day.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.