Janet Southard

Cartier-Bresson 'The Jumping Man' There can be few better-known ideas in photography than ‘the decisive moment’. This famous concept originates from the 1952 book of the same name by Henri Cartier-Bresson. In simple terms, he was describing the exact instant when the elements of a scene best align for visual impact and narrative effect. In his words: “The simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event, as well as of a precise organisation of forms which...

Yesterday reminded me of something important. Twice, I nearly didn’t go out with the camera. The first time, David was leading a group walk up the hill towards the snow patches. I had rooms to clean, and if I’m honest, I just didn’t feel like it. Low energy, long to-do list… all the usual excuses. I started cleaning. Got partway through the first room. And then I stopped. What am I doing? It was a beautiful day. We were closed. The rooms could wait. The light wouldn’t. Isn’t this exactly why...

April has a bit of a reputation, doesn’t it? It’s the month people complain about. Too wet, too grey, not quite spring, not quite winter. And I’ll be honest—I’ve spent many long, soggy days out with the camera this month. But here’s the thing… I wouldn’t swap it. There’s something about photographing in the rain that changes how you see. You stop chasing the “perfect” conditions and start noticing what’s actually in front of you. Looking a Little Closer Rain has a way of pulling your...