“Any geometrical analysis…can be done only after the photograph has been taken, developed, and printed. Then it can be used only for a post-mortem examination.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

One of the important points we touched upon the workshop is this: when you’re out shooting on the streets, follow your gut and intuition. Don’t think too much when you’re shooting on the streets. Don’t force yourself to see red triangles and lines when you’re shooting.

Composition should be used as a tool to examine our photos after we have shot them. Like what Henri Cartier-Bresson said; geometrical analysis can only be used as a post-mortem— to study what we did well in our photos, and how we can improve.

For me personally, I have found the more time I spend to analyze my compositions after I have shot them, the more I learn. And when I study the work of the masters of street photography, I can better internalize composition when I’m shooting on the streets.

Always think about composition when you’re out shooting, but don’t let it ever hinder you.