“Of all the means of expression, photography is the only one that fixes forever the precise and transitory instant. We photographers deal in things that are continually vanishing and, when they have vanished, there is no contrivance on earth that can make them come back again.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson.
This year, I have taken on the awesome and inspiring task of a make-shift Critical Theory of Photography class with several of my online photography friends. All of the women involved in this project are absolutely amazing photographers and it has already been so incredible hearing what everyone has to say about our readings. This month, we read The Mind’s Eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson and I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone searching for a good photography book.
Anyone who has met me knows that photography lives in my soul. I am so crazy passionate about photography- about my subjects, about myself as a photographer, and about how photography fits into this crazy world- and reading this book was so mind opening and thought provoking that I stayed up late several nights in a row, highlighting and taking notes while my husband slept beside me. What I loved most about Cartier-Bresson’s thoughts was how much of a purist he was. He didn’t believe that photographs should be manipulated. He thought they should be natural and, best of all, he said this:
“To take a photographs is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in the face of fleeting reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.”
And this:
“(Photography) is a way of shouting, of freeing oneself, not of proving or asserting one’s originality. It is a way of life.”
And this:
“Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever-attentive eye, which captures the moment and eternity.”
And, possibly best of all this:
“It is putting one’s head, one’s eye, and one’s heart on the same axis.”
Yesterday afternoon, after spending a month thinking about The Mind’s Eye and all Henri Cartier-Bresson had to offer, I pulled out my camera, thought of all I had read this month, and captured these photographs of Henry and Andrew as soon as Andrew came home from work. I shot these with my Mark III and my simplest lens, the Canon 50 1.4 and I just love them with my whole heart.
I am so glad that Jo Lien picked this amazing book to start off 2014! Head on over to Beth’s amazing blog (seriously- her work is so amazing) to see her take on Henri Cartier-Bresson and the fantastic month we spent discussing him.
Can’t wait for y’all to see more!!
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* Lissa Chandler is a creative portrait and wedding photographer in Northwest Arkansas who specializes in newborn, family, senior portrait, and wedding photography. Lissa currently lives in Fayetteville with her family: a husband who has started shaving with a straight razor (crazy, right?! Also, I may have mentioned this before), a three-year-old with the saddest little cold, and a one year old whose knees like awesome. Lissa is available for travel nationwide. *
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These are amazing. I love the interaction between your husband and son.