“Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation.”
– Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1908-2004, French, Photographer and Painter, photojournalist
Henri Cartier-Bresson is considered to be the father of photojournalism. He was an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography. He helped develop the street photography or life reportage style that was coined The Decisive Moment that has influenced generations of photographers who followed.
A short film of Cartier-Bresson in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60o8UHyiCS4
Art of Quotation 
Funny you have this quote today. Some friends and I were just debating this quote. Many of us photographers disagreed completely. For me, photography is a spiritual meditation when I’m out in nature. It’s the whole deal, start to finish. I find I’m better when I’m alone, when I take time to sit and get a feel for the place before shooting. To me, that’s a meditation. AND back in THAT day there’s no way photography could have been an immediate reaction – it’s not like that had digital point-n-shoots. What do you think?
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Interesting question. Recently my friend Mike Osborn (featured artist on from1artist2another) went out with a friend to do a day of photography. Mike took hundreds of photos, all immediate impressions. He was very happy with how it went. His friend, spent a tremendous amount of time setting everything up, getting the light perfectly, framing the image just right and so on. Mike was fascinated with how different their approaches were. His friend only took a few photos, needless to say. I think there is no one right way – only each person’s own way to express who they are and how they feel or think about their art.
As for this quote I think it has to be seen through the eyes of Bresson personally – he was both a photographer and a painter. The taking of the picture for this artist was a reaction to his environment – not lots of laboring over it. Of course, developing the photo was not an instant process but he seems to be talking only about the taking of the photo. He references drawing and I’m thinking he must have labored a great deal more over his drawing/painting. For me personally, when I paint it can take months to years to finish one painting. But when I photograph, the longest it can take is a short amount of time in comparison.
Anyway those are some of my thoughts on the topic! Hope I didn’t bore you!
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I like your perspective. True, seeing it through his eyes I see your points. Photography was his job and his subjects were immediate as well. Me, as a hobby photographer, chooses my subjects based on my interests (nature) and travels. Apples and oranges, eh? Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I love how your quotes make me use the ol’ grey matter more!
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🙂 I love it when that happens!
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🙂
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Doisneau and Brassai were also masters of candid photography
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Oh my yes! Thanks for mentioning both these exceptional photographers!
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