One Must Not Take Photos – Monte Stevens Photography Blog

“A photograph is neither taken or seized by force. It offers itself up. It is the photo that takes you. One must not take photos.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

When someone sees me with a camera I am quite often asked if I have “taken” any good “pitchers” today. I find that difficult to answer. First, I carry a camera as if it is a part of me, a creative tool. I only compose and press the shutter button when an image appears. My belief in that grows more and more each day. One of my tasks in life is to have a camera with me and to be present and observe. I must see with my eyes and the eyes of my heart and soul. And, there are days when I never press my shutter button, most likly because I was not present.

Secondly, what I consider a good image may not be good to someone else. If Cartier-Bresson is correct then a photograph given to me has a purpose of nurturing my soul and change something within me. And for me the beauty of this is the desire to share some of these images with you, whether they are liked or not.

Thanks for listening. Monte

4 Comments

Tom Dills

October 4, 2016 at 10:22 am

That’s always a tough question to answer. I usually want to reply with some kind of smart-a$$ answer but don’t, because I realize that they wouldn’t get my (attempted) humor. My theory is that someone asking that question would not understand, and someone who did understand would not ask the question. We ultimately make photographs that serve our own purposes, whatever they may be. And once we determine which ones accomplish that, sharing them with an appreciative audience is an important benefit. As you say, whether they are “liked” or not, sharing is an important part of what ultimately feeds our creativity. I’m a fan of both of these, but especially #2.

Monte Stevens

October 4, 2016 at 11:07 am

I like your comment and your answer. Some photographers will seem similar scenes and some will see totally different scenes. There is a lot involved in determining what we see. I’m finding myself much more open to what others see.

Cedric Canard

October 7, 2016 at 5:17 am

I agree with Tom’s “theory” (which, incidentally, I think is more fact than theory), people who need to ask won’t understand and people who understand don’t need to ask. And this is true for any creative endeavour.
For me it’s the “seeing” that takes me, more so than the resulting photo which is perhaps why I never get the urge to keep photos. I may even have taken the last part of the quote too literally – “One must not take photos” – when I gave away my camera away close to 19 months ago 🙂
Anyway, like Tom, I like the second image very much. It definitely represents a “seeing” moment for me. It is exactly this kind of simplicity that “takes me”.

Monte Stevens

October 7, 2016 at 5:53 am

Thanks, Cedric! I agree there is something that happens within me when a scene appears and I’m able to compose and press the shutter button. I know there are people who will think we’re strange while they watch us in the process of stopping and seeing something they do not see. Yes, it “takes us.”

Tom Dills

October 4, 2016 at 10:22 am

That’s always a tough question to answer. I usually want to reply with some kind of smart-a$$ answer but don’t, because I realize that they wouldn’t get my (attempted) humor. My theory is that someone asking that question would not understand, and someone who did understand would not ask the question. We ultimately make photographs that serve our own purposes, whatever they may be. And once we determine which ones accomplish that, sharing them with an appreciative audience is an important benefit. As you say, whether they are “liked” or not, sharing is an important part of what ultimately feeds our creativity. I’m a fan of both of these, but especially #2.
- Monte Stevens
  
  October 4, 2016 at 11:07 am
  
  I like your comment and your answer. Some photographers will seem similar scenes and some will see totally different scenes. There is a lot involved in determining what we see. I’m finding myself much more open to what others see.
Cedric Canard

October 7, 2016 at 5:17 am

I agree with Tom’s “theory” (which, incidentally, I think is more fact than theory), people who need to ask won’t understand and people who understand don’t need to ask. And this is true for any creative endeavour.
For me it’s the “seeing” that takes me, more so than the resulting photo which is perhaps why I never get the urge to keep photos. I may even have taken the last part of the quote too literally – “One must not take photos” – when I gave away my camera away close to 19 months ago 🙂
Anyway, like Tom, I like the second image very much. It definitely represents a “seeing” moment for me. It is exactly this kind of simplicity that “takes me”.
- Monte Stevens
  
  October 7, 2016 at 5:53 am
  
  Thanks, Cedric! I agree there is something that happens within me when a scene appears and I’m able to compose and press the shutter button. I know there are people who will think we’re strange while they watch us in the process of stopping and seeing something they do not see. Yes, it “takes us.”