I think this is a really strong image. The photographer has done a great job capturing a split second in time that tells a powerful story. The use of black and white works well at distilling the scene into its most important elements, it also helps with the mood of the story it is telling. We can't help but feel empathy for the small boy in this picture, and the photographer has done a good deed by highlighting his daily struggle.
This a great shot and one that reminds me of a very similar picture by the Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt from 2000. Its clean composition and use of black and white tones means there are no distracting elements. Overall it is a strong photo and its use of humour is an important (and hard to achieve) element of good street photography. Bravo!
This is a beautiful landscape scene and the photographer has done a good job waiting for the right element (the cyclist) to come along and turn it into great photo. The resulting image is very graphic and arresting. They have chosen well when they have clicked the shutter - freezing the cyclist in between surrounding elements.
This is shot which uses the wonderful features of the Tate Modern in London; working the light and the architecture to capture an image that has almost religious connotations. In doing so the photographer poses questions to the viewer and causes them to stop and reflect; this is what all good photos should strive to do. The timing of the picture was very important to place the figure in the most balanced position for the frame, and they have done a great job in doing so.
2,927 Images entered
With a photo competition about the work of Henri Cartier Bresson there have been quite a few puddle reflection shots! This however is one of the better ones, creating a strong graphic image. The shape of the puddle is useful, but it is mainly the timing of the shutter which freezes the two moving images at the perfect moment. Well done!
A beautifully balanced shot, the photographer has done a great job and bring the three separate scenes together. They have used the architecture to their advantage and created three frames within a frame, each with their own story playing out. Street photography is a form of theatre in many ways, and here they have exemplified that, using the three elements as three stages . Great job!
This street art is a well known spot in Glasgow and makes for an excellent backdrop. What makes this image work really well for me is that the lady has an umbrella, this works in two ways, firstly it separates her slightly from the background, making her stand out more. Secondly it adds a comedy element, because it is as if she is unaware of what is unfolding above her. Overall a great capture!
This photograph has a lot of separate elements that the photographer has spotted and tried to bring together in one frame. They have done a good job capturing the groupings, and whilst it doesn't entirely work as a perfect image for me; I can see what they were seeing and really commend them for doing such a good job bringing all the elements together and balancing them in one frame.
1,619 Photographers
This is a lovely moment that has been captured. The composition is really strong as is the story the picture is telling. I think if the photographer had just dropped a little lower, the cat would have been set against the sky and perhaps not clashing with the birds in the background, which might have made it a little cleaner. However I think it is still a great capture, and the photographer must have had great reactions to capture this, the decisive moment.
This is a great street photographer and really does a good job at using the street art as a canvas. The photographer obviously had an image mind, but to get one where the gesture and the colours match so well, is a really great achievement. This type of street photography takes vision and patience, well done!
116,228 Ratings
Brief
See more contest details
The phrase ‘Decisive Moment’ was the English title of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s 1952 photobook “Images a la Sauvette”. It encapsulates those fleeting moments of human behaviour that the photographer has a split-second to capture. Sometimes these are unexpected events , but other times, as Cartier-Bresson sometimes did, a location is staked out and the photographer waits for events to unfold in ways that might be somewhat anticipated beforehand. Cartier-Bresson taught us that photographers should always have their cameras to hand, and that a dedication to documenting the everyday world will undoubtedly be rewarded. Whilst there are many ‘decisive moments’ in other photographic genres, this contest is more focussed on street and documentary photography of the kind Cartier-Bresson focussed on.
Meet the expert judge
This a great use of a street advertising to add some humour to an otherwise ordinary scene. Good street photography is often about observing the absurd, humorous, or out of places situations in the every day. The fact that the photographer has waited for the player to put down his pipes and light up only adds to the story; he looks dejected, which adds to the humour. The fact that the lady is in red immediately draws our eye to her, whilst the small red detailing on his cap connects the two subjects ever so slightly. A great capture!
This picture is great because it makes you stop and look twice; the images tells you a part of a story and leaves us with more questions than answers, which in my opinion is what all the best images do. The composition is nicely balanced and the tones work well. In terms of decisive moment it does not freeze any action, but instead it toys with the concept of the decisive moment and in hinting at the theme of death maybe it is about the ultimate decisive moment after all?
I really like this image and the way the photographer has created mini stages each with its own actors. Street photography often feels like theatre and this is a great example of that. The choice of a long lens to compress the perspective was a wise one as it adds to the slightly abstract feel of the whole image. The next choice is finding the perfect timing when 6 separate actors all work together to make the image; no easy feat, well done!
I like the photographers use of colour and composition in this frame. I don't think the chosen frame is quite strong enough for me personally, but I think the intention was there and maybe with slightly different action in the frame this could have gone from being 'good' to 'great'. Either way the photographer definitely has a good eye for composition and colour, but some images just need to be explored a little further to really sing. Overall; good capture, and good effort!
This a great pre-visualised image, the photographer has done a great job reacting to the canvas with which they were presented, and they had the patience to wait for the final element; the man in the red t-shirt. Being open to your surrounding and seeing the humour in the everyday is an important part of capturing great photographs on the street, but it takes a good eye and fast reactions!
