HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON :: THE DECISIVE MOMENT

Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/1GCpY5i
Henri Cartier-Bresson published his seminal book The Decisive Moment/Images à la Souvette in the early 1950's. Originally issued by Simon & Schuster it was only produced in 1 edition of 10,000 copies (3,000 in France and 7,000 in the US).
Robert Frank called the book "a bible for photographers".
A few months ago I bough the Steidl reissue and I want to talk about what makes this such an amazing piece of history.
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
3100 Main St #135
Dallas, Texas 75226
My name is Ted Forbes and I make videos about photography. I’ve been making photographs most of my life and I have a tremendously deep passion for photography that I want to share with you on KZbin.
The Art of Photography is my channel and I produce photography videos to provide a 360 degree look into the world of making images. We all want to get better so lets do this together!
I make videos covering famous photographers, photography techniques, composition, the history of photography and much more.
I also have a strong community of photographers who watch the show and we frequently do social media challenges for photographers to submit their own work. I feature the best and most interesting on the show when we do these so come check it out and get involved!

[@wessauer]

I found a copy of the original at University of Washington Special Collections. I sat and looked through it for a couple of hours, about two years ago. When Steidl released this, I purchased it. Some reviews on Amazon ignorantly complained of low print quality. Having seen both I would like to state that this is a faithful facimile of the real thing. It looks like the original, and it is not intended to be a slick coffee table book. The book even has that fantastic ink smell that is described in the documentary "How to Make a Book with Steidl." It is a treasure.

[@rbruce63]

Wes Sauer Do you know what kind of printing process did they use for the first edition?

[@halo3269]

Have you not noticed how, the double page spreads fail to work in the book? The poor design and consideration of his work, fails to impress. Had this book been a lay flat design it would really be an outstanding piece.

[@RoyORear]

This episode is one of the many reasons I'm a fan of the show. Thanks, Ted.

[@Cyriljayant]

Yep!!! I got this book and it is one of the best in my small photo collection . Thanks TED , as usually your reading on the book is great ! Thanks a lot .

[@landrover4444]

A few years ago in Paris I had the good fortune of holding in my hand a first edition of this book inscribed by HCB to a good friend of his. It is arguably one of the most important photography monographs ever published. I also saw many of his early photos and, surprisingly, most of them were out of focus. Thanks for posting this.

[@CalumetVideo]

I just purchased and received my copy of this fantastic work of art. The cover by Matisse is amazing as well as the photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson. I really enjoy the technical notes. This is a must for any photographer.

[@willparsons32]

I just got this one for Christmas... What a beautiful book and the packaging - outer hard case is just as beautiful as the book itself! Well worth every penny!

[@marktwiddle]

Stumbled upon your channel. I absolutely love your commentary on historic photographers!

[@ryanehoward]

I got this book for Christmas. It's beautifully made and the photos are, of course, amazing.

[@zioscozio]

Hi Ted! You're on a roll these days! Great for us!

[@ZenoWatson]

Beautifully described, as always

[@dennisswanner4114]

Love your work. Ted. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks.

[@49vvaldez]

Excellent overview. Purchased my own copy earlier this year. Thanks

[@bequirkybeyou]

Love this book!

[@jmgcg]

Thank you for all. I sharing your videos trough my FLIPBOARD app magazine Photography.

[@jeroenkommer6467]

I Just got my copy as a birthday gift to myself and Just love it

[@cosmicwoman8044]

LOVE your art photography reviews❤️ im a fan of your content. Much appreciated❤️ kind regards from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

[@stuvs830]

This was delightful! I was distracted at the really lovely lighting in your new space. 😉 Even the reverse on your hands was very painterly. Great skin tones.

[@KeepDreamsBig]

Thanks for this! Just ordered mine on Book Depository - so excited to have it! Love the style of your videos. Very educational - especially for me, since I am a first year photography student. You have a new subscriber :)

[@barnettsloan2597]

You are amazing and everybody loves you. You are the best and you are amazing. Amazing sir. Amazing.

[@jadeforest4441]

Dear Ted, I have enjoyed your lecture on Henry Cartier-Bresson today🙆🏻‍♀️, and feel so blessed to have this opportunity to learn from you. My socalled daily TEdF moment is very dear to me. I Will try to Find your earlier episode on HCB. Merci Beaucoup 🙋🏻‍♀️ and see you Tomorrow in the next lecture😀. Henry is really a Magnum and Will look for the book the Man Image World, top. Thank you once again!

[@sharad2020]

I could listen to this forever. Good stuff! Thanks for going into details.

[@DavidBirchphoto1.]

Beautiful book.

[@HamishMarr]

Love your videos! A book I have had on my shelf for many years that made so much sense way back is Visual Concepts for Photographers from the Focal press, 1980 (Leslie Stroebel, Hollis Todd, Richard Zakia). A kinda dry volume really but it helped me in many ways. I enjoy your presentation and it affirms my love of books! Just wish I could afford them! I am an artist and love the juxtaposition of papercut and photography!

[@DaniSurname]

So glad you did this video Ted, it's such a beautiful book, one I wish I had the budget for. Ahh student finances... Anyway, great video and really high quality too!

[@RicardoRMedina]

Thanks for posting this episode!!

[@MarcusVorwaller]

The decisive moment to buy this book would have been when you posted the video, it's now either completely out of stock or > $500. Great video though! I'm glad I got to see the parts of the book you shared. Thank you.

[@vicibox]

Fancy that so bought a copy for my Christmas present ;-)

[@ninwithwes]

i like the longer segments, nice

[@julesnoelsmith]

great ep Ted!

[@hurleygreen927]

Thanks for sharing some book images from "the Master! "

[@PaulGriffiths]

Oh Ted what have you gone and done now? Yet another book for me to add to my Christmas list.. I'd heard about the book and read some comments which were what I would term as 'say so ' comments. Once again though you have created a great short but detailed and in depth comment about this book and of course the photographer. Superlatives are endless when considering Henri Cartier-Bresson's work and what he means to all photographers. Thanks again for a great show... The book shelf by the way is being reinforced as I type now - But hey thanks...

[@aglang0203]

Your best, well done.

[@cillyede]

Great video again. Hubert, Germany

[@tapasbasu730]

Hi Ted, Beautiful explanation I am an admirer of the GreatCarter-Bression

[@Nitidus]

One quote of his I really like is, »Sharpness is a bourgeois concept.«

[@s2zvidz]

Great stuff as always, love to hear your thoughts on Robert Frank's 'The Americans.

[@aldaryrachmadi8942]

Thanks for your suggestions Ted, :D

[@ronwolfept]

Last week I ordered one up directly from Steidl ($110USD) w free shipping and had it to me in San Francisco in 3 days!

[@stuvs830]

Does Steidel autograph? Because after watching "How to Make a Book with Steidel" several times on Netflix, I feel like a groupie.

[@Biker_Gremling]

Thoose coments from HCB about sharpness and printing techniques reminded me about the obsesion for megapixels and photoshop.

[@CurlyHairArtistry]

New sub here - great content. I find your channel a great breath of fresh air in an over-crowded niche on photography - thank you.

[@victorwhitby4401]

Great vid

[@alexanderovodenko1386]

This is why your channel is the best. Please review Dawoud Bey, Richard Renaldi, or Susan Meiselas.

[@paulcrawley7321]

I got one and it's great.

[@guilhermevaz8833]

the great Bresson !

[@rejeannantel1185]

Henri Cartier-Bresson was definitely a master in geometrical composition. I am still amazed how some people failed to believe the photographer's intent to capture such moments "instantly" ("on the fly" - "à la sauvette") and "knowingly". When you look for them you find them. But you still got to know what to look for. That's where some teachings in the visual arts become very helpful. Photography is about how the human brain perceives vision. Great episode Ted. BTW the sound recording in your new studio is greatly improved.

[@rbruce63]

Rejean Nantel Was Cartier-Bresson a sniper in disguise?

[@rejeannantel1185]

In some way you might say so ;-)

[@ErikFlorin]

Great video :)

[@maxloudon8245]

Another great episode Ted,could you consider doing something on Brassai,please ,I've looked on google etc.but you always seem to find something extra. Regards Max, Australia.

[@draganmikki5688]

Decisive moment, a much discussed term! In one of KZbin video interviews a female assistant to Cartier-Bresson clearly explains how the term got associated with HCB, which is not what we hear every day. Apparently, the English publicist, in the run up to HCB's exhibition in the UK came up with the title Decisive Moment. HCB approved believing it to mean something different to what it really means, but when he later understood the true meaning he 'hated it'. However, the rest of the world liked it so he was happy to later use the title himself. Similarly, 'if photograph isn't good enough, you were not close enough', is widely believed to have been coined by Robert Capa, but some forty five years ago I read that it was Alfred Eisenstadt who first told to another photographer to get closer, to which the unknown photographer replied that he, the Eisenstadt, knows that it is not easy to do it with Rolleiflex. This would have been a credible explanation because Rolleiflex has parallax and it doesn't focus close anyway. I would interested to hear if someone else can shed some light on this.

[@johnjbh7089]

So interesting. Aspirational.

[@TimPalman]

Awesome photographer, awesome book. Would love to see you show off one of Alec Soth's books, preferably Sleeping By The Mississipi or Niagra if you can get your hands on either!

[@Cyriljayant]

I missed to buy book when it was when it was first introduced . I ordered it last and waited months and it was cancelled as saying it is not available for that price > Hard luck for me and it is very expensive now .

[@jamestarry4814]

Was lucky to have been taught via an original when I started out all those many decades ago. And when they did the first run I nearly picked one up until I saw the price was around £80....so it stayed there. What I find sad is these books that are so important, (and in general most photography books) but are so damn expensive that they largely become inaccessible for many who would benefit from them.

[@danielrmorenop]

+James Tarry it's a high quality print artifact worthy of it's price.... think of the value behind it, and then it becomes worth it.

[@jamestarry4814]

+Daniel Moreno Hey, I love books, but i regulary look at photography books and put them down when see the £50-90 price tag. For something that will be looked at once in a blue moon I personally cannot justify it, I know its beautiful but ive seen many newer photographers wishing they could see it/buy it/learn from it but cant because of the cost....

[@jamestarry4814]

***** If you have access to a library, most of ours are being shut down And don't carry a decent selection of photography books. As for the Internet, yes, but viewing photos as dots and pixels is never the same as viewing in print.

[@stuvs830]

You're right, of course. What ends up happening is that the books are the meeting of many artists. Even as the end price locks me out, I would still argue in favor of the artists being paid for their work.

[@Nitidus]

@@stuvs830 The money primarily doesn't end up in the artist's hands, most of it is going to the publisher. It's just like with music. Of course the artist does profit from it or else they wouldn't do it. But honestly the high prices only exist because publishers create an artificial shortage by producing very limited runs so they can up the prices and create higher profits out of thin air. Ultimately, the artist would get more out of a higher a larger number of books sold, especially because it provides more publicity, more people buying prints and more potential commissioned work.

[@DTM-Books]

I just checked on Amazon for a copy of this book, and was shocked to see that copies were being sold for over $500. What the heck happened here? Why is this book not currently in print, and who owns the rights? It should be immediately available in print and digital formats at a reasonable price. Art and photography does not become "valuable" when it is hidden away from public view. It becomes forgotten.

[@NadjaNiemann]

Ah - I was thinking about getting the fresh reprint that Steidl advertised a few days ago.... they should cut you a cheque and link to your reviews :) Can't leave even the online shop without a few more books in my cart... maybe Steidl books are my 'Manolos'.

[@stripedsweater520]

I checked it out from my university library ! I think it's the original copy it's really old

[@malman1080]

This book needs another reissue. I can’t find it on sale for anything less than $800.

[@khaliqmasuri6727]

Hi AOP can you do a video on henri cartier-bresson and on how he composed his subject

[@rajsingharora1]

a review on amazon said picture quality not great....but after seeing this i am ordering it....i just wonder how long amazon india will take to deliver this.

[@mizuhokusuha]

I have been reading about the reviews for the book and wondering if it was as what many reviewers have hyped about. I have been looking for what I hoped would be an encompassing collection of his work and writings (I doubt any english translation would have done his writing justice since he was French) or at least some annotation to help explain his writing. Thank you for the review, but I think you are right that the other book you mentioned would be a lot more useful to me than this one.

[@bullsharkreef]

I have the french version, great book.

[@alexcarrillo4143]

Now I have 6 books including this book that I had too adjusted my book shelf to place this masterpiece, and also have 5 DVD's of Bresson, learn from this artist and also this channel as well. Thank you Ted

[@BOBMAN1980]

I know of two 1st Editions here in New Orleans. Both for sale. Neither signed.

[@youravantgarde]

I want that book so bad. 1st edition is so expensive.

[@JustinLoving]

This begs the question that has been in my mind. Shooting with recent technology....example the brand new X-T2...which i just acquired. Is it even possible to get this type or style of image with todays technology or is it reserved for film or other older development medium?

[@antoniorussell9893]

I think there are two aesthetics at play here: technology dependent and photographer dependent. You could always try and reproduce the former but the latter is gone forever.

[@timheubeckphoto]

Hi Ted, one question: I saw you do a lot of book reviews, do you need a permission to record and share the images? Thanks!

[@theartofphotography]

+Tim Heubeck for a review you do not… hope that helps Tim!

[@timheubeckphoto]

The Art of Photography Thanks :)

[@radikl_ed]

That being said, I would be slightly cautious about filming multiple whole pages, as well as inserting a commercial plug in the middle of the review.

[@MrGarrincha11]

Images à la "sauvette". I think it is Robert Capa who said "a bible for photographers".

[@glorialombardi8211]

HCB never chose the title of the decisive moment; in fact, as the Art Director of the HCB Foundation explains well, he didn't like it all as it was misleading.

[@robertbutts9835]

Have you done a show on Robert Frank ? Let me know

[@user-ok1mi3pw5w]

ups tracking says that I will have this Book tomorrow :).

[@Velociphile]

Nice to have but I was a bit undewhelmed with the print quality compared to the level achieved in, say, the Magnum Contact Sheets.

[@xianlaowei]

Great piece on Henri Cartier-Bresson by Sadanand Menon of Chennai, India who I had by chance took a photo of during a street photography walk, found out later who he was. newint.org/columns/essays/2004/10/01/cartier-bresson/

[@RogertEspaillat]

Its better the 2015 version than the 1952?

[@bhabanism]

when does the talk on content of the book starts? I am still at the cover...

[@luisboaventura22]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@pavneetsingh9570]

Books giveaway Ted ?

[@curtishalley2481]

Anyone want to sell me a copy of Decisive Moment? :D If not, can someone recommend the next best HCB book to get? There are so many and I keep seeing mixed reviews for all...

[@paulweiss1567]

It's a quite expensive book at US$500.

[@rbruce63]

I felt that Cartier-Bresson was un reachable both technically and as a person. Given that the pictures are too good, perhaps even staged, I frowned upon his oeuvre and decided not to study them. Today, despite these preconceptions I believe that I have to give it a try, perhaps give myself the possibility of tearing these walls and go deep. Perhaps I'll have the time to look at this picture form the intellectual standpoint of a library! I hope I will!

[@hafiz2664]

In the age of memes and x gen, the book would've been titled The Ninja. Hehe.

[@alostperception]

If anyone is selling this book for a reasonable price, let me know lol

[@Hellmutuk]

I do! Please send me a DM

[@abigailsockeye1586]

He opens the book at 9:52 ur welcome

[@Neil-Aspinall]

William Eggleston is not technically even a proper photographer compared to the genius HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON. It makes me mad that hacks like Eggleston hoodwinked a vulnerable 'in' crowd.

[@ummagumma9969]

Eggleston is fantastic photographer too

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@ummagumma9969 No he's not. All he did was use color in an interesting way. He's a very ordinary photographer.

[@melikatalks7676]

از مدل حرف زدنت واقعا بدم می آد. :)))

[@TheIkaika777]

I like Vivian Maier’s work better.

[@Lawful_Rebel]

I have never really been a fan of Bresson... Just Compositionally boring. Kinda like the classically trained musician who cannot improvise but is technically brilliant. Just my opinion. I'm drawn more to the raw.. The Rule breaker.

[@renaissance6745]

HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON IS GROSSLY OVERRATED I FIND HIM TECHNICALLY INCOMPETENT !!