HENRI CARTIER BRESSON.

The photographer that I chose to learn more about for my first research project is Henri Cartier-Bresson. Henri was born on August 22, 1908 in a little town right ouside of Paris. He was one of five children and his father was textile manufacturer. As a child Henri had a Brownie box camera then upgraded to a 3 by 4 camera which disappointed his father because he thought Henri would take over the family buisness....but he was wrong Henri had his own agenda. Henri first decided to be a painter while he was in catholic school, then he followed to an art school to pursuit more painting. During his college years he attended Cambridge, then went to the french army. When he returned from the military he first was inspired by a photograph Martin Munkacsi of the boys in Africa, from there is when he started his true passion of photography.


Henri explained, "I suddenly understood that a photograph could fix eternity in an instant." He started taking up photography seriously he went out and shot all around Europe the photos he first took were entered Julien Levy Gallery in New York in 1932 and subsequently at the Ateneo Club in Madrid. In 1934 in Mexico, he shared an exhibition with Manuel Alvarez Bravo. In 1934 Cartier-Bresson met photographer David Seymour and Hungarian photographer Robert Capa. The three shared a studio. After he traveled everywhere except his home country he went back and did a ton of work about the returning french prisoners. Twards the end of the war rumors spread that Henri had died, but in 1947 on his work came out at the MoMA along with his first book The Photographs of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Later in 1947 he along with his coworkers founded Magnum photos. Then Henri traveled even more everywhere along to India and Indonesia he also started gaining respect from the Dutch, along with his home country where he earned is exhibition at the Louvre. He was consitered the first photographer that shot freely in the post war Soviet Union. Henri retired from photography in 1975 and put his camera on display in his home. Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation was made by his wife and daughter in 2003. On August 3, 2004 Henri passed away.

Henri Cartier-Bresson really inspired me, in both his life and his work. He was an example of a artist who didnt think photography is his first love. I also think it's amazing because of all the places he has been and seen in the world. His photography is something that i haven't seen. He takes real concepts and real life throught the whole world and make them look interesting. I also love all the work he has done during war because usually I dont like photographs about war. I am glad I did my research on Henri.


PHOTOS:









i like this one above because henri does a lot with prisons, but this one is different. it's different because you dont see any faces only the feet and the arms kind of saying help me but it adds mystery because you dont know who is behind the iron gate.














i love this one because of all the work ive seen by henri this one is the most laid back photo. i have seen all his work on war and rough times. this one is great because it just shows kids in spain being kids and i like it very much. i also love the place where he chose to shoot it with a little bit of the wall where there is a hole.