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Capturing the decisive moment



Two ladies pass on the street. Their hands, legs and expressions mirror each other. Both carry document folders, both are taking a step with their heel on the ground. They are unaware of each other.

It's a perfect Cartier-Bresson style decisive moment.

I believe that you make images, you don't take them. In photography, luck and serendipity always play their part. The unpredictability is what makes it so exciting. You never know exactly what you're going to get but you can plan and control a lot of elements that will help you make better images.

Walking down the street looking for a background that could work as a 'stage' or canvas, I saw this interesting blue wall. I set up and waited for something to happen. Minutes went by. I waited. People passed but nothing caught my eye. I waited.

Then I saw these two ladies approaching from opposite directions and I knew I had a potential image. The thing that struck me was how determined they both looked, striding purposefully along. They passed each other, perfectly framed by one of the blue panels. I took a single exposure. Everything had clicked into place.

Making a good image often comes down to creating the right circumstances, building a composition and anticipating the moment, when fortune smiles on the prepared photographer and the magic happens.

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Paul

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