The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality. Henri Cartier-Bresson More Quotes by Henri Cartier-Bresson More Quotes From Henri Cartier-Bresson To take photographs means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye and one's heart on the same axis. Henri Cartier-Bresson photography heart mean I'm always amused by the idea that certain people have about technique, which translate into an immoderate taste for the sharpness of the image. It is a passion for detail, for perfection, or do they hope to get closer to reality with this trompe I'oeil? They are, by the way, as far away from the real issues as other generations of photographers were when they obscured their subject in soft-focus effects. Henri Cartier-Bresson passion real ideas Pictures, regardless of how they are created and recreated, are intended to be looked at. This brings to the forefront not the technology of imaging, which of course is important, but rather what we might call the eyenology (seeing). Henri Cartier-Bresson technology important photography To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression. And this organization, this precision, will always escape you, if you do not appreciate what a picture is, if you do not understand that the composition, the logic, the equilibrium of the surfaces and values are the only ways of giving meaning to all that is continuously appearing and vanishing before our very eyes. Henri Cartier-Bresson eye photography expression Life is once. Forever. Henri Cartier-Bresson photography life-is forever A photographer must always work with the greatest respect for his subject and in terms of his own point of view. Henri Cartier-Bresson photography photographer views The world is being created every minute, and the world is falling to pieces every minute Henri Cartier-Bresson pieces world fall The difference between a good picture and a mediocre picture is a question of millimeters - small, small differences - but it’s essential. I didn’t think there is such a big difference between photographers. Very little difference. But it is that little difference that counts, maybe Henri Cartier-Bresson essentials differences thinking It is the photo that takes you. One must not take photos. Henri Cartier-Bresson art-photography photography photographer One eye looks within, the other eye looks without. Henri Cartier-Bresson vision eye looks What reinforces the content of a photograph is the sense of rhythm - the relationship between shapes and values. Henri Cartier-Bresson rhythm shapes photography Photography is only intuition, a perpetual interrogation - everything except a stage set. Henri Cartier-Bresson intuition stage photography He made me suddenly realize that photographs could reach eternity through the moment. Henri Cartier-Bresson realizing moments photography Photography is like fencing. You must keep your distance, wait, and then thrust. Henri Cartier-Bresson distance photography waiting They ... asked me: 'How do you make your pictures?' I was puzzled ... I said, I don't know, it's not important. Henri Cartier-Bresson important photography photographer It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us. Henri Cartier-Bresson world To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart. Henri Cartier-Bresson eye photography heart If, in making a portrait, you hope to grasp the interior silence of a willing victim, it's very difficult, but you must somehow position the camera between his shirt and his skin. Whereas with pencil drawing, it is up to the artist to have an interior silence. Henri Cartier-Bresson drawing silence artist The most difficult thing for me is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the skin of a person and his shirt. Henri Cartier-Bresson skins photography trying I enjoy very much seeing a good photographer working. There’s an elegance, just like in a bullfight. Henri Cartier-Bresson elegance enjoy photographer