Behind the Gare St. Lazare

Author: Henri Cartier-Bresson
Picture date: 1932

This picture depicts one of those fleeting, everyday moments in life. The author,   Henri Cartier-Bresson, became famous because of his street art and capturing these moments which are also called the Decisive Moments. The photo is one of his most iconic works, showing a man taking a leap into the water when all his aids to avoid getting wet ended.

Cartier-Bresson said his picture was not fully intended and planned:

There was a plank fence around some repairs behind the Gare St. Lazare and I was peeking through the space with my camera at my eye. This is what I saw. The space between the planks was not entirely wide enough for my lens, which is the reason the picture is cut off on the left. 

Once again, the author found himself in the right place and in the right moment. This image proves that everyday moments may not be meaningless when to think of them. And also, we can find beauty in all those fleeting moments.