Documentary Photography - The Decisive Moment

Photography is an act of discovery, being present in the world, open to surprises and ready with the camera to respond to the interesting things that occur in daily life. Photographers often describe the decisive moment as an “ah ha!” moment when all of the elements of composition come together to describe a suspended event.

How can we best represent the life and depth of this exciting, dynamic environment using the 2-dimensional frame of the viewfinder? Equipped with our tools of inquiry—our cameras—we will study the elements of composition, light, and vantage point, as we investigate daily life in Paris, which is in constant motion. Scooters slice through crowds on the sidewalks, the markets and parks overflow with activity, yet its distinctive and decisive moments offer themselves to the curious mind and creative human eye.

Our workshop will begin at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the leading site for contemporary photography worldwide. After a visit to the current exhibition, we will explore the extensive library to see some of Paris’s iconic images, studying how the photographers constructed their compositions. We’ll continue to Paris’s historic heart—the two central islands, Saint Louis and Cité. The bridges along our route contain enough activity for a lifetime of photographs, and we will spend time photographing along them, practicing the technical aspects of camera controls.

Crossing to Ile de la Cité, we’ll approach Notre Dame through the gardens and enter the main square in front of the cathedral. In this busy area, we can practice different techniques for approaching and photographing unknown people, and how to respond quickly to the ever-changing situations around the city. We’ll cover some basic French phrases for initiating conversation—invaluable while photographing in Paris. After exploring the markets and streets of Ile de la Cité and Place Dauphine, our group will convene in a café for a final discussion and review of the day’s photographs on a laptop over frothy café crèmes.

We can adjust the plan according to any special needs or interests you may have. If you are using a film camera, we can recommend some excellent labs where you can get your film processed.

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