If You Only Watch One Video Today, Make It This One: How Photojournalists Capture the “Decisive Moment”

Iconic street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson coined the term The Decisive Moment as the title for his book published in 1952. Ever since, this famous expression has been used by photographers to describe elusive, fleeting photo opportunities that must be anticipated and captured instantly before they vanish forever.

The exceptional video below is a segment from yesterday’s CBS Sunday Morning, and explores how photographers can be taught to capture great images that appear and disappear in the bat of an eye. CBS Anchorman Maurice DuBois attended the famous Eddie Adams Workshop to discuss this notion with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers Caroline Cole, John Filo, Carol Guzy, and John H. White.

The late great photographer Eddie Adams (who also won a Pulitzer) and his wife founded the annual Eddie Adams Workshop three decades ago, and it still takes place at their barn in upstate New York. Every year, 100 upcoming photographers attend the intensive four-day event at no cost, where they are mentored by 10 acclaimed veterans.

One of this year’s instructors was Caroline Cole, whose 2004 Pulitzer-winning images documented the 2004 civil war in Liberia. Cole said this about her goal for those attending the Workshop: “I hope my passion for photography rubs off on them. And if they’re ready and the next big story happens, they’ll be prepared for it.”

There’s plenty to learn by watching the video below, and you‘ll find more information on the Eddie Adams Workshop on their website. And be sure to read our profile of Eddie Adams from 2003.

COMMENTS
jtm71's picture

Great share, very inspiring

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