30. Decisive Moment

One of the most well-known and influential photographers of all time is Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was known for defining his style of photography called the "decisive moment". Cartier-Bresson defined it as a split second in time when the compositional forms in the scene are arranged for the optimal photograph. These forms are based on geometry and a repetition of this geometry.  The decisive moment is not the height of action or climax, instead it captures the pregnant pause right before climax. The photographer only need to place himself in the right space and wait long enough for the planets to align in the frame rendering the perfect photographic image. Additionally, he championed the small and portable 35 mm film camera (considered inferior by many) in order to be flexible and fast enough to capture this moment in a fraction of a second.

Why is the decisive moment so on my mind? As an educator in, and resident of, the state of California I feel that we are in a decisive moment. We are all sitting patiently waiting for the planets to align, waiting for the economy to turn around, waiting for education to fix itself. That is the problem with the decisive moment - it is passive. I went into education because I love to teach. I am not the best advocate, politician, or organizer of reforms, most educators aren't. But at some point, this insanity isn't going to solve itself. There are two things that need to change in California... one, Prop 13's control of property taxes, and two, teacher tenure. (Duck as the arrows fly above my head.) So how do we fix this? We need to be flexible, like a 35 mm camera, but not as outdated as one.

 

Henri Cartier-Bresson