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Madrid, 1933

I am in awe of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the French photographer who had such an eye for the moment. I watched a documentary recently that was filmed in 2003, the year before he died at age 96.
Cartier-Bresson took "simple" black and white photos, no special effects, no big studio productions, no special lenses. It was just a quick click and ... the magic happened. As he said in the documentary, "You either get it or you don't."
He had an eye for framing the photos, for being in the right place at the right time, anticipating the imminence of the photo, and was ready when the time came.
I once read a wonderful quote from Henri: "Photography is nothing. It's life that interests me."
Cartier-Bresson was the first photographer who really inspired me back in the 1970s when I started fiddling with an old Nikkormat camera. Even after all these years I still find his work to be astoundingly beautiful and moving.
I would love to have one of his original prints, but they sell for $10,000 and up.... well maybe someday. But in the meantime, I enjoy poring over books of his work and appreciating his incredible legacy.
Here is a link to his official website.

Toledo, Ohio
March 31, 2008