Things As They Are

Henri Cartier-Bresson is commonly referred to as the “father of modern photojournalism.” He was a visual artist who revolutionized the world of photography with his keen eye for capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life. His style is characterized by a thoughtful understanding of composition and timing, which has influenced generations of photographers and changed the way stories are expressed visually. Knowing this, I chose to delve into Cartier-Bresson's unique photographic process, his innovative use of the "decisive moment," and his impact on the art of photography.

Storytelling has always been part of my work in both writing and art. The two commonly come together when creating. Like Cartier-Bresson, my original passions led to a new way of creating. I don’t do many staged or posed photographs. I photograph what I see and what the subjects show, which is something about Cartier-Bresson’s work that made me gravitate towards him. I decided to create a portfolio inspired by his work and process, so I bought some 35mm film, found the oldest camera I own, and got to work. Though I wanted to get as close as possible to fully committing to his techniques, I do not own a Leica, and I wasn’t going to buy one; therefore, my Nikon 2020 was the best I had.