Henri Cartier-Bresson (August 22, 1908 - August 3 2004) was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism, an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography. He helped develop the "street photography" style that has influenced generations of photographers that followed.
French photographer
Co-founded the ground-breaking Magnum photo agency in 1947 with two of the other pre-eminent photographers of the time, Robert Capa and David Seymour, but left in 1966 to concentrate on portraiture and landscapes.
Received Grand Prix National de la Photographie in Paris in 1981
The eldest of three children, he was interested mainly in painting. At the age of 20, he turned his back on the lucrative family textile business to study art.
He has one daughter Melanie from his marriage to Martine Franck.
At the outbreak of World War II, he was a corporal in a film and photo unit and was quickly taken prisoner. After nearly three years he escaped and made his way back to Paris where he divided his time between commercial photography and transporting ex-prisoners for the French underground.
Shot photographs for Life, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines. Photographed the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi in India and the Chinese revolution.
Opposed posing subjects or cropping pictures. Was famously averse to having his own picture taken or to giving interviews.
Shot pictures with a Leica, the quietest of cameras, working only with black and white film without a flash.
Hailed as possibly the greatest photographer of the 20th century.
First wife Ratna Mohini was a Javanese dancer.
Was buried in the cemetery of Montjustin (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France)
