The Decisive Moment
As mentioned in the course, the concept of the decisive moment has many followers and detractors. Has it pushed photography forward, or has it held it back?
In my opinion, it can sometimes hold it back, as it has led to a sense of snobbery within the street photography community. Henri Cartier-Bresson is often idolized as the epitome of what all photographers should strive for. While his work is undeniably accomplished and groundbreaking, if we all only emulated him, photography would never evolve.
So, what is the decisive moment? It’s that moment the photographer or viewer perceives as perfect. But who are we to define what perfection is? Below is one of my images from last year, which I posted to a local street photography Facebook group here in Hong Kong and also submitted for the Camera Club’s annual exhibition, HK in Black & White.
This image sparked debate within the community. Some felt the man walking in the background was a distraction, and the Cartier-Bresson camp argued that he shouldn’t be there. On the other hand, more modern thinkers suggested that his presence actually reflected the life of a big city.
I’m not suggesting that this image should be hung alongside Cartier-Bresson’s work in the V&A. Rather, my point is that anything can be a decisive moment. Pushing boundaries is what art is all about. Take color photography, for instance—until perhaps Joel Meyerowitz, the decisive moment was thought to exist only in black and white. Now, color has become just as integral, adding another layer of depth to images.
