Moments in Photography
In science, there is no clearly defined unit of time for the moment. The moment is a brief interval that cannot be measured in terms of duration. Its duration results more from a personal perception than from the complexity of the image. The process of photography can be divided into three phases: the moment of decision, the moment of capture and the moment of reception.
The Moment of Decision
There is that one moment when the photographer decides to take a photograph because he considers it worthy of a special place in a sequence of events, and believes it should be captured so that it does not fade away. It may be the result of planning, a hunch or even chance, but this moment is already defined by the mere fact that a camera is present and being used.
To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
The Moment of Capture
When the camera captures the subject, the moment in question is recorded. This recording of the moment can be controlled to a certain extent (choice of camera type, format – film or digital –, exposure time, ISO, etc.). The nature of the image and the possibilities for its reproduction are determined both by the photographer (through their settings) and by the camera (its design). Settings relating to shutter speed reveal the flexibility of the concept of a ‘moment’.
For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
The Moment of Reception
Last but not least, the viewer of the photograph comes into play, be it the photographer themselves or any other observer of the moment captured in the image. The moment has been captured to make an impact. Without a perceiving subject, the photograph remains an object devoid of interpretation. The meaning lies in the eye of the beholder. The subject need not make an impact. If it fails to arouse interest, it remains just one image amongst billions of others. A good photograph entices the viewer to explore it, to recognise it and to ascribe meaning to it, whether in terms of content or emotion. Ideally, the moment the photograph was taken is brought back to life or transformed into something new.
To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
The ‘moment’ in photography is therefore multifaceted. It is neither a singular nor an unambiguous phenomenon. The photographer captures a fleeting image with his camera and hands it over to the viewer for interpretation.
