This image was taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson and is titled Ile de la Cite, Paris, 1952. While scrolling on the page filled with Cartier-Bresson’s works, this photo really stood out for a few reasons. At a quick glance, it looks like an image thats been mirrored to create an infinite looking bridge. Upon a closer look, you start to realize the difference in details between the skyline in the background as well as the pier under the right-most arch and realize that this is actually a real bridge, and the island is a wedge shape. The trick on the eyes makes the image interesting and then, gets the observers wondering how Cartier-Bresson found the exact center of the island to position himself to take the picture. The composition is also strong for its neat organization of the bride perfectly horizontally cutting the image, the size of the city’s reflection matching the size of the city itself, and the shade of the water matching the shade of the sky, making the bridge and island look as if it’s floating. These aspects effectively make this piece interesting to look at, and these techniques could also be used in modern times to give photos more space and air, perhaps in a city environment.
Cartier-Bresson, Henri. “Ile de la Cite, Paris, 1952.” 1952. Photograph, Silver gelatin print. Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta.