Decisive moment theory

The decisive moment theory, developed by photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, suggests that the perfect photograph captures a fleeting instant when all elements—timing, composition, and emotion—align perfectly. It's about recognizing that a split second can reveal the essence of a scene, emotion, or story. Photographers aiming for the decisive moment wait for and anticipate these precise moments to tell a powerful, authentic story through their images, emphasizing the importance of timing and intuition in capturing meaningful photographs.