The Story Behind the Image; Body Language

Body Language, Newport, RI (click to enlarge)
Nikon D70; 18-55 Nikon kit lens @ 70mm , 1/100th sec. @ f/5; ISO 200

It was the great photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson who coined the term, "The Decisive Moment." Cartier-Bresson is one of my top 5 all time favorite photographers and if you are not familiar with his work, you should be.  It is truly historic.  His photography, to me, is simply unparalleled by any other photographer of a similar genre.

Cartier-Bresson often spoke of "the decisive moment" and several quotes attributed to him explain what he meant.  The decisive moment is that instant when your composition, subjects and movement all come together for an instant, which captures the essence of what is before you.  A second before or after and you've missed it.  Here are some of Cartier-Bresson's quotes that relate to the decisive moment.

"To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, or the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression." 

"You must see a composition or expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera."

"Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity."

"The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box."

"Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes."

When I am out photographing, whether landscape, street, wildlife, people, family, or whatever, the decisive moment certainly applies.  Always, I keep in mind the fact that there is a best time to press that shutter button and it is my job to recognize that.

Don't get me wrong.  I would never compare myself with Cartier-Bresson.  My photography wouldn't even amount to a footnote to his.  Nonetheless, I believe you have to keep in mind the best time to press that shutter button.

For example, in macro photography, the best time might be when the wind finally dies down only for a second, your subject is still and a bumble bee lands suddenly on the flower you are photographing.

In portrait photography, the best time may be when you catch an off-guard subject with a striking but fleeting expression that is better than any posed expression.

In landscape photography, the best time to press the shutter may be when the sun dips behind a cloud, the contrast is reduced and the fully dynamic range of the landscape is achieved.

In wildlife photography, the best time may be the split second when a bull moose turns his head and looks directly at you before turning away and lumbering off.  

In street photography, it may be that split second when the interaction between your subjects as well as between your subjects and their environment comes together to capture the essence of their interactions.  And...that is what today's image is to me.

I had been watching this couple interact as I wandered through the downtown streets of Newport, Rhode Island a few years ago.  I had been mainly photographing old cemeteries, old architectural subjects, juxtapositions contrasting colors, details, the marine environment around the docks and marina, etc.—just out seeing what I could find that was interesting.

I was strolling across a patio and spotted these two talking in an animated fashion.  So, I lingered awhile and watched them.  Their movements and body language was fascinating to me.  It was obvious to me who the dominant individual of the two was so I waited until I saw some sort of movements or body language that reflected that dynamic relationship. She was clearly in charge.  She moved back and forth, used her position, hands and arms to get her point clearly across to the fellow across the table.  It wasn't only her movement, but how she held her cigarette and the positions of her fingers. Also, the way she was sitting with her legs apart, gave her a masculine look.

When she leaned fully forward, put her arm up and moving it back and forth, and at the same time, he leaned backward in a somewhat submissive posture with his hands between his legs and his feet together, I quickly raised my camera to my eye, composed and pressed the shutter button. 

I only made two quick clicks of the shutter before it all changed.  It only lasted an instant.  The moment was gone.  After the drama of the interaction was over, I wandered away to find another interesting image–with a little smile on my face!  It was a fascinating study of human nature.

I wondered if the feeling I had was the same kind of feeling Cartier-Bresson felt after he successfully captured some dynamic fleeting image?  I guess we'll never know...

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly.  Thank you.


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