Good photography takes…hold on a second…time. So does bad photography, for that matter, though experienced photographers tend to develop a special understanding of the various aspects of time at play in their art.
Henri Cartier-Bresson’s famous concept of “the decisive moment” in photography is routinely connected with capturing fast action in dynamic situations. An online search for “outdoor photographer” and “decisive moment” will lead mostly to articles about capturing wildlife action. But landscape photographers routinely work in dynamic scenarios as well, so aiming to capture the decisive moment in nature should always be a goal.
It’s all about the photographer being in the right place with the right perspective at the right time, ready to photograph the ephemeral alignment of subject relationships, form and line, light, weather and so on, in a way that results in an effective, compelling composition. Time cannot move backward. Your last photograph can never be made again in precisely the same way unless the conditions repeat themselves precisely in the future. It’s not only a decisive moment you’re capturing; it’s a unique one as well.
Freezing The Moment
For most photographers, the link between time and photography
