The Right Moment

abandoned-store-beaufort
Originally uploaded by fauselr.

When to take a picture? Cartier-Bresson spoke of the "decisive moment" but is there a decisive moment when taking a picture of a flower, a landscape? Maplethorpe took fantastic pictures of flowers but they were studio work and could have been done at any time of day or night. Walker Evans took wonderful pictures of decrepit buildings down South, and though the lighting was definitely perfect, you could hardly call it a "decisive moment." When a picture feels right, take it. If It doesn't, look around, walk away, come back, try a different position. Above all, take the photograph when you want to take it.