Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Interesting thoughts. Did Cartier-Bresson comment on this? I have read > Cartier-Bresson's statements on the subject of his photography, and it > seems to me to be more like the moment when history had come to a fine > point. Where everything in the picture (geometry, timing, composition, > exposure) come together for that quick instant where everything > works. There is a Greek philosophical/theological term for this - kairos - the right moment, the opportune moment (even the decisive moment!), the point/moment where past and present and future intersect. "The propitious moment for the performance of an action or the coming into being of a new state" - Oxford English dictionary And many more etc. etc.... Of course it comes from the Greek root for right or proper time, but is used this way in philosophy and theology - Paul Tillich, Karl Barth and even W.H. Auden et al (and now in photography!) It has always seemed to sum it up for me. Now I will get off my soapbox. And yes, this is definitely an interesting discussion compared to other recent ones! Tim A tim@KairosPhoto.com > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Eric Welch > Sent: September 22, 1999 9:17 AM > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us; leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > Subject: Re: [Leica] 'Absurd' indecisive moments > > > At 02:06 PM 9/22/99 +0100, Johnny Deadman wrote: > >I've thought this 'absurd' thought for years, but was very > pleased to read > >Colin Westerbeck's essay on HCB in BYSTANDER, in which he says: > > > >"THE DECISIVE MOMENT is misleading as a translation, for the > moment referred > >to is that just before a decision is made, the moment of aniticipation > >rather than conclusion... the instant being described is the one when you > >are just about to take off, the point at which the shortstop is ready to > >dash in any direction as he watches the batter step into the > ball, or when > >th epickpocket waits for his victim to be distracted so that he > can strike". > Not > just before, as the person above argues. Have you read Beaumont Newhall's > essay in one of HCB's books? Seems to argue for decisive. (They were > friends, by the way). > > This is much more interesting than angels or molesters! :-) > > Eric Welch > St. Joseph, MO > > http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch > > Men say they know many things; but lo! they have taken wings >