HENRI CARTIER- BRESSON Geometry in Photography By Abigail Siefer Media 203

Henri Cartier-Bresson August 22, August 3, 2004

The Man Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the most influential photographers of the 20 th century, he helped pave the way for photojournalism and was a major contributor to the style known as street photography. He was a master of capturing moments and didn’t believe in staging or manipulating photographs; finding his love of photography in capturing spontaneity and movement in ‘the decisive moment,’ the title of his first published book of images. He was born in Chanteloup- en-Brie France in 1908 to a wealthy family that was able to support his early interest in photography. He eventually began painting under the instruction of Andre Lhote, a Cubist painter, and referred to him as teacher of “photography without a camera.” [1] Cartier-Bresson was known to use a Leica 35mm camera that’s small size made it easily concealed, which allowed him to capture moments in public without his subjects reacting to the camera. He said that he used "the velvet hand [and] the hawk's eye“ [1] to capture his photographs.

Possibly the most important aspect of Cartier-Bresson’s artistry was his eye for geometry. This ability to recognize composition was undoubtedly from his work in painting, especially the abstract works of Cubism, as taught through Andre Lhote. In the study of Cubism a painter must analyze objects, break traditional form into abstract pieces, and use multiple viewpoints to compose a painting. This method of seeing and translating a subject was evident in the photographs of Henri Cartier-Bresson. He not only captured humanity and spontaneity but he captured it with form, angles, and lines that were unbelievably pleasing to the eye. "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 Geometry Henri Cartier-Bresson was able to capture moments with an inspiring balance and structure, while maintaining the life and energy of his chosen frames. He never cropped his images, which is significant because the 3:2 aspect ratio of a 35mm camera frame closely resembles the “Golden Rectangle”. The Golden Rectangle is a geometric shape who’s sides and lengths are in the ‘Golden Ratio’ meaning it can be cut into a square and a smaller rectangle with the same aspect ratio. [5] The idea of using the Golden Rectangle in photography can be most easily compared to using the Rule of Thirds. Although framing his photographs using the Golden Rectangle or Rule of Thirds was important, capturing geometry within that form was what made the compositions come together. His awareness of lines and shapes, such as squares, rectangles, circles, spirals, and diagonal lines created beautifully balanced works of art. Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of his work, he did all this in the moment, always watching for the unpredictable and spontaneous seconds in which to push the shutter.

The Photographs

“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Thinking should be done before and after, not during photographing.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Of course it’s all luck.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

References geometry-quotidian#!/ geometry-quotidian#!/ 3. intuition-and-sensitivity-in-the-photography-of-henri-cartier- bresson/ intuition-and-sensitivity-in-the-photography-of-henri-cartier- bresson/