Knowing When to Compromise

As you might have gathered by now, the inspired and intentional use of light when photographing children has an enormous visual and emotional impact on your final image, as in 3-30. It is something to seek and to recognize. But what if the light isn’t perfect or something great is happening and there is no unusual light to be found?

At these times it is helpful to remember the work of renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who is famous for what he termed the decisive moment, which is that fraction of a second when visual and narrative elements come together, and reveal the intention or attitude of the photographer.