RE: [Leica] 'Absurd' indecisive moments

["Lee, Ken" <ken.lee@hbc.com>]

Tim,

I was active in the United Church of Canada in the 60s when the older Youth
Group changed it's name to Kairos. At the time we were given a definition of
Kairos as "Time filled with significant action" If you allow a loose
definition of action, I think it fits HBC's work very well.

Thanks for reminding me.

Ken

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tim Atherton [SMTP:timphoto@nt.sympatico.ca]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 22, 1999 12:56 PM
> To:	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject:	RE: [Leica] 'Absurd' indecisive moments
> 
> > Interesting thoughts. Did Cartier-Bresson comment on this? I have read
> > Cartier-Bresson's statements on the subject of his photography, and it
> > seems to me to be more like the moment when history had come to a fine
> > point. Where everything in the picture (geometry, timing, composition,
> > exposure) come together for that quick instant where everything
> > works.
> 
> 
> There is a Greek philosophical/theological term for this - kairos - the
> right moment, the opportune moment (even the decisive moment!), the
> point/moment where past and present and future intersect.
> 
> "The propitious moment for the performance of an action or the coming into
> being of a new state" - Oxford English dictionary
> 
> And many more etc. etc....
> 
> Of course it comes from the Greek root for right or proper time, but is
> used
> this way in philosophy and theology - Paul Tillich, Karl Barth and even
> W.H.
> Auden et al (and now in photography!) It has always seemed to sum it up
> for
> me. Now I will get off my soapbox. And yes, this is definitely an
> interesting discussion compared to other recent ones!
> 
> Tim A
> 
> tim@KairosPhoto.com
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Eric Welch
> > Sent: September 22, 1999 9:17 AM
> > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us; leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] 'Absurd' indecisive moments
> >
> >
> > At 02:06 PM 9/22/99 +0100, Johnny Deadman wrote:
> > >I've thought this 'absurd' thought for years, but was very
> > pleased to read
> > >Colin Westerbeck's essay on HCB in BYSTANDER, in which he says:
> > >
> > >"THE DECISIVE MOMENT is misleading as a translation, for the
> > moment referred
> > >to is that just before a decision is made, the moment of aniticipation
> > >rather than conclusion... the instant being described is the one when
> you
> > >are just about to take off, the point at which the shortstop is ready
> to
> > >dash in any direction as he watches the batter step into the
> > ball, or when
> > >th epickpocket waits for his victim to be distracted so that he
> > can strike".
> >
> Not
> > just before, as the person above argues. Have you read Beaumont
> Newhall's
> > essay in one of HCB's books? Seems to argue for decisive. (They were
> > friends, by the way).
> >
> > This is much more interesting than angels or molesters! :-)
> >
> > Eric Welch
> > St. Joseph, MO
> >
> > http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch
> >
> > Men say they know many things; but lo! they have taken wings
> >