Henri-Cartier-Bresson

This photo by Henri-Cartier-Bresson shows three small boys playing "cowboys" in the street.

The movement of the game is really strong in this photo, because the boys' arms and legs are bent, and their guns are ready to fire. There is also movement because the three boys are shaped in a triagle, and this makes your eyes move around the whole composition. Even though the picture is in black and white, you can still see difference and contrast in what would be the colors of the boys clothing. The very large pole in the background is only one third of the way into the photo. If it were in the center, it would become the focal point of the shot. The one boy on the right side of the picture is the true focal point. Their difference in age with the boys, and also the people in the background, which are not influencing the shot, add more interest to the photo. The photographer would have had to have a fast shutter speed to capture the movement of the boys and keep the picture perfectly clear. This photo keeps your interest for a long time because of the different elements, and opposingly, it's simplicity. This shot lets your mind create what happened before and after the picture was taken.