The Groove 164 - Three Practical Ideas to Amplify Your Humanity
THREE PRACTICAL IDEAS TO AMPLIFY YOUR HUMANITY
We definitely don’t view events that happened 90 years ago with the same eyes we analyze things today. We take too many things for granted. The same is true of any art form, but photography has become particularly vulnerable to this scrutiny since almost everyone has a potent camera at their fingertips. I’ve always said that as much as I love Instagram (and I really do), it became, along with the smartphone, the biggest assassin of fine art photography. However, one quality that we can learn from the photography pioneers of the 20th century was their ample humanity.
“Ample humanity” encapsulates the depth of human compassion, empathy, and understanding, extending beyond mere sympathy to encompass a profound connection and recognition of shared experiences and emotions. It embodies the capacity to embrace diversity, foster inclusivity, and extend genuine kindness to others without prejudice or bias.
Without being fully aware of it at the time, Henri Cartier-Bresson invented the photojournalism genre. He did this by allowing himself the mindfulness, presence, and compassion to absorb places and historical situations while at the same time developing an uncanny ability in capturing political moments through the eyes of an artist.
He was the first to have a photography exhibition at the Louvre in 1954, along with shows in some of the most important galleries in the world and two retrospectives at MoMA. And that’s just a sliver of the recognition that Cartier-Bresson has commanded for more than eight decades. These are three of the commandments that were most present in his practice:
The Importance of Humility
Henri Cartier-Bresson in the 1930s.
I’m fully convinced that every human being possesses a special talent. (And many times, more than one!) Whether your talents come from natural aptitude, are sharpened by training, or a combination of both, an honest self-assessment of finding yours starts by being humble enough to recognize it rather than forcing something that’s not.
Having studied in his native Paris under a surrealist and cubist painter, Cartier-Bresson had the humility to acknowledge that his paintings weren’t good. Following a trip to Africa in 1930, where he contracted blackwater fever and nearly died, Cartier-Bresson went to Marseille to recuperate. There he bought a small Leica and started prowling the streets all day with the intention to “trap life”. This led him to publish his first journalistic work in Vu Magazine in 1932.
Gandhi dictating a message at Birla House, the residence where he spent his last days and in which he was assassinated, just before breaking his fast. Delhi, India. 1948. © Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
For the next 40 years, Cartier Bresson photographed subjects like Henri Matisse, Coco Chanel, Truman Capote and Jackie Kennedy. But where he really left a mark with his work was when he was on the ground in places like Germany in 1945, where he recorded the aftermath of World War II, following almost three years as a prisoner of war in German camps. He captured the USSR after the Iron Curtain lifted. And there was a particularly important trip to Delhi, India in 1948 to photograph Mahatma Gandhi. Fifteen minutes after they parted ways, Cartier-Bresson heard shouts that Gandhi had been killed. He sped back and full of shock and grief was able to shoot the photo essay on the death of Gandhi for Life Magazine.
It would’ve been a mistake for Cartier-Bresson to insist on becoming a painter. He has numerous times been singled out as the creator of some of the best works of 20th Century art, especially his photos from the 1930s. Cartier-Bresson was unassuming enough to understand, without bragging, that this was his talent. “If you have a gift, well, it's a responsibility. You have to work.”
Seize The Decisive Moment
“Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare” 1932, is said to be the best photo Henri Cartier-Bresson ever took. It is the embodiment of Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moments. © Henri Cartier-Bresson
His pioneering contributions reshaped the realm of visual storytelling, emphasizing candid imagery. His "decisive moments" revolutionized photography, capturing a perfect, fleeting, authentic instant in time. This ideology became a cornerstone in photographic practice, fostering a deeper appreciation for the spontaneity and authenticity found in everyday moments.
The “decisive moment” has come to be associated with Cartier-Bresson. It derives from the English title of “Images à la Sauvette” (“Images on the Run” might be a closer translation), a book of his photographs published in 1952. Cartier-Bresson described it as "the simultaneous recognition in a fraction of a second of the significance of an event, as well as the precise organization of forms that give that event its proper expression."
The concept of the decisive moment transcends photography. It refers to those critical instants when actions, decisions, or opportunities present themselves, and seizing them can lead to significant outcomes or changes. In personal growth and decision-making, recognizing the decisive moment involves being attuned to opportunities that arise —moments where choices can profoundly impact one's life trajectory. It's about being perceptive, understanding when circumstances align, and taking action with conviction and purpose.
Recognizing and capitalizing on these moments can lead to transformative experiences, personal growth, and significant achievements in various facets of life. Cartier-Breton was adamant about this: “A moment before or after, and the image fails. Here lies the decisiveness of ‘The Decisive Moment’”.
Discover Your Generous Humanity
“Seville, Spain” 1933. Cartier-Bresson had set out on a tour of southern Europe with his 35mm Leica, stopping in Seville to capture children taking over a scene of destruction to joyfully and uninhibitedly play among the desolation.
We’ve become desensitized in order to protect ourselves from too much pain. We are processing more images and information daily than during any other given time in the history of humanity. This has taken a toll on how much we are willing to stretch ourselves in the pursuit of giving from the depths of our souls.
No matter the subject, Cartier-Bresson produced a body of work of close observation, generous humanity, and incomparable lyrical beauty.
“In whatever one does, there must be a relationship between the eye and the heart. One must come to one's subject in a pure spirit. One must be strict with oneself. There must be time for contemplation, for reflection about the world and the people about one. If one photographs people, it is their inner look that must be revealed!”
In this endeavor, he warned us not to lose our true essence: “I see children painting beautifully well, and at puberty sometimes there's a curtain that drops, and then it takes a lifetime to get it back. Not the purity of a child, because you never get it back once there is knowledge, but to get back the qualities of a young child takes a whole lifetime.”
“You have to be on the same level with people. You can't come as a judge and uh, you have to get close to people, you have to be warm. You have to like people. You mustn't be cruel, you mustn't be hard, you mustn't be tough, because it bounces back on yourself. You can express all that you feel, you can be shocked, you can be humorous, you can be less tender, all the sentiments you can express.”
Cartier-Breton’s dedication to capturing the essence of human experiences through his lens illuminates a universal truth: that within each of our lives, regardless of our profession or pursuits, exist moments of immense significance. These moments, fleeting but potent, offer opportunities to amplify our humanity as well as for connection, growth, and impact.
Remaining generous and human in the face of unsettling times can be profoundly challenging. It often involves consciously cultivating compassion. Engaging in acts of kindness can reaffirm our humanity as much as fostering connections with others and finding shared values even with people you may disagree with.
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