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Henri Cartier-Bresson – A Man With An Eye For Good Questions
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a brilliant
photographer. In fact, he was – and still is – number 1 in the
world. So, what made this French photographer who was born in 1908
so special? And, why are so many photographers still trying to
emulate him? I think I know. The answer, I believe,
is in one of my favourite photos. Henri Cartier-Bresson took it in
1938.
The
picture is simple. It is black and white. It shows 4 middle aged
people. 2 sisters and their husbands. They are sitting on one of
the banks of the River Marne. They have just finished
their picnic. It's a very hot day. And, although the
4 people have their backs to the camera, we know they are happy. The
photo has a feeling of peace. But, then come the questions.
Where
will these people be the following year! Will picnics still be
possible? Will there still be enough food for a picnic? Will these
people still be alive?
And,
it was this art of visual questioning that made Henri Cartier-Bresson
so powerful. And, it's present in all of his pictures.
It's the thing that makes people want to look at his pictures again
and again.
Taking
brilliant photos is not just a question of looking and shooting.
Henri Cartier-Bresson proved it was all about seeing the questions
and making them visible. And, that's what made him the
way that he was and impossible to copy. There will never be a
second Henri Cartier-Bresson!
Henri
Cartier-Bresson - A man with a black and white eye for very good
questions!
Vocabulary
although
– obwohl
bank
– Ufer
emulate
– nachahmen
present
- present
visible
– sichtbar
Questions
When
did Henri Cartier-Bresson take this picture?
When
was Henri Cartier-Bresson born?
How
many people does the picture show?
How
old are the people?
What
have they just finished?
Are
they happy?
What
was the weather like in the picture?
Why
is black and white so special?
Have
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Short
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