The moment of anticipation

Somewhere I remember reading that ‘the moment of anticipation’ was a better translation of the French phrase more commonly known in English as Henri Cartier Bresson’s ‘The Decisive Moment’. I don’t know if this a reliable memory or not – but I like the anticipatory alternative better than than the cast iron ‘Moment’.

Right now I have my own little anticipatory moment, with advance copies of my book Old New World about to be despatched from Hong Kong. Just before Christmas we drove the three sets of proofs out to the airport to freight them to Hong Kong. There were no changes to be made to the proofs – a good omen for the 62 photographs surely?

This week will be filled with anticipation. I promise myself not go to the courier depot, as I had to with the proofs, and spend an hour and a half waiting for the parcel. This week will just be waiting in my head….

Old New World cover