Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was a French humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography and an early user of 35 mm film. He pioneered the genre of street photography and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment. His work has influenced many photographers worldwide.

Early Life and Education Cartier-Bresson was born in Chanteloup-en-Brie, Seine-et-Marne, France and developed an intense fascination with painting early on. He undertook a year of formal art studies at the Lhote Academy, the Parisian studio of the Cubist painter and sculptor André Lhote.

Career Cartier-Bresson’s interest in photography was kindled by viewing the work of the German photojournalist Martin Munkácsi. In Marseilles, he acquired a Leica camera with a 50 mm lens that would accompany him for many years. He described the Leica as an extension of his eye.

Cartier-Bresson’s photographs are well known for their composition. He coined the term “the decisive moment” that has inspired generations of photographers ever since. To him, the camera was an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.

1947, Cartier-Bresson, along with Robert Capa, David Seymour, and others, founded Magnum Photos, a cooperative picture agency owned by its members.

Later Life and Legacy In the 1970s, Cartier-Bresson retired from photography and returned to his passion for drawing and painting. He died in 2004, leaving a rich legacy of work. His approach and style have influenced generations of photographers and shaped how we look at the world through the lens. His work continues to be celebrated in exhibitions worldwide.

This is just a brief overview of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s life and work. His contribution to the field of photography is immense and continues to inspire photographers worldwide. If you’re interested in learning more about him, I recommend looking into his photographs and reading more about his philosophy of “the decisive moment.”

Larry Burrows was a man who saw the world through the lens of his camera, capturing moments that would define an era and etch themselves into the collective consciousness of generations. Born Henry Frank Leslie Burrows on May 29, 1926, in London, he would come to be known as one of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th century.

Early Career Burrows’ journey into the heart of photojournalism began at the art department of the Daily Express newspaper in 1942. His talent and passion for photography soon led him to the darkrooms of the Keystone photography agency and eventually to Life Magazine, where he would make his indelible mark.

Vietnam War Coverage It was his coverage of the Vietnam War, spanning nine years, that cemented Burrows’ legacy. His images were more than mere photographs; they were profound narratives of the human condition amidst the chaos of war. One of his most iconic images, “Reaching Out,” taken on October 5, 1966, encapsulates the raw emotion and humanity that Burrows was able to capture. It features US Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Purdie, wounded and reaching out to a fellow wounded comrade, Lance Corporal Roger Dale Treadway.

One Ride with Yankee Papa 13 Another of Burrows’ significant works is the gripping photo essay “One Ride with Yankee Papa 13,” which tells the harrowing story of a helicopter mission gone awry. Through his lens, Burrows captured the distress of door gunner Lance C. Farley as he attempted to aid the co-pilot Lieutenant James Magel, who was fatally wounded during the mission.

Death and Legacy Tragically, Burrows’ life was cut short when he died in a helicopter crash in Laos on February 10, 1971. He was 44 years old. His death was a profound loss to the world of journalism, but his photographs live on, continuing to speak volumes about the realities of war.

Larry Burrows’ work transcended the boundaries of photojournalism, offering a poignant and unflinching look at the human cost of conflict. His photographs are not just historical documents; they are powerful testaments to the strength and fragility of the human spirit. In the face of adversity, Burrows showed us the power of a single image to move hearts, change minds, and challenge the status quo. His legacy is a reminder of the profound impact that one person’s vision can have on the world.

Anja Niedringhaus (1965–2014) was a remarkable German photojournalist whose lens witnessed the tumultuous landscapes of war and human resilience. Her indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to truth-telling through her camera made her a beacon in photojournalism. In this article, we delve into the life, career, and legacy of this extraordinary woman who defied boundaries and captured the essence of humanity amidst conflict.

Born in Höxter, North Rhine-Westphalia, Niedringhaus discovered her passion for photography early. At just 17, while still in high school, she embarked on her journey as a freelance photographer. Her lens became a bridge between worlds, and Anja soon documented pivotal historical moments. In 1989, she covered the collapse of the Berlin Wall for the German newspaper Göttinger Tageblatt, foreshadowing her future role as a chronicler of global events.

Niedringhaus’s full-time career as a photojournalist began in 1990 when she joined the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) in Frankfurt, Germany. The first decade of her career was marked by her unwavering presence in the former Yugoslavia, where she documented the horrors of war. Her lens captured the anguish, resilience, and humanity of those caught in the crossfire. She bore witness to the siege of Sarajevo, the ethnic conflicts, and the struggle for survival. Her photographs transcended mere images—they became testaments to the human spirit in times of adversity.

In 2001, Niedringhaus stood amidst the rubble of Ground Zero in New York City, photographing the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Her lens then turned toward Afghanistan, where she spent three months covering the fall of the Taliban. Her images revealed the devastation and the resilience of a nation torn apart by conflict. In 2002, she joined the Associated Press (AP), embarking on a journey that would take her to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip, Israel, Kuwait, and Turkey. Her photographs were not just visual records, but narratives etched in light and shadow, telling stories of courage, loss, and hope.

In 2005, Niedringhaus stood at the forefront of a team of 11 AP photographers who received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for their coverage of the Iraq War. She was the only woman in this formidable group, a testament to her skill, dedication, and fearlessness. That same year, she was honoured with the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism prize. Her work transcended borders, reminding us that the pursuit of truth knows no gender or nationality.

Tragically, Niedringhaus’s life was cut short on April 4, 2014. While covering Afghanistan’s 2014 presidential election, she was killed when an Afghan policeman opened fire at the car she was waiting in at a checkpoint. Her death sent shockwaves through the journalistic community, a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who bear witness to history. Fellow AP journalist Kathy Gannon, who was with her, survived the attack but was seriously injured. Niedringhaus’s legacy lives on through her powerful photographs, each frame a testament to the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

Anja Niedringhaus’s lens captured our world’s brutality and beauty. Her photographs transcended the fleeting moment, becoming timeless echoes of courage, pain, and hope. As we reflect on her life and work, we honour a gifted photojournalist and a woman who dared to stand on the frontlines, bearing witness to humanity’s most profound moments. Anja Niedringhaus reminds us that even amidst chaos, there is light—the light of truth, compassion, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.