The Decisive Moment in Press Photography: The Transformation of Political Assassination Moments that Left a Mark on World History into Iconic Photographs and Their Societal Construction

<p><span>This article comprehensively addresses the historical development of press photography and the importance of recording social events. Observations are made about how press photographs are reconstructed and how they contribute to social memory creation. Press photography, one of the significant topics of the research, proved itself in the early 1940s. Following this period, press photographs began to consist of exceptional moments extracted from the flow of the unique reality of daily life. Events happening within the fluidity of life or special moments, whether good or bad, have always drawn people's attention. These moments are special scenes from life or situations that hold new value. Among these events, sometimes the most spectacular moment of a gesture, a glance, a movement, or a fleeting scene where emotions reach their peak can be represented through the decisive moment. In its application, this photographic concept becomes even more critical, especially in press photography. This is because photojournalists aim to present the most dramatic and impactful snapshot of an event to the viewer with the photographs they produce. Technological advancements following the beginning of the 20th century made cameras portable, and with the invention of photographic films, press photography gained rapid momentum worldwide. One of the most significant reasons for this was the prototype cameras designed by the German inventor Oskar Barnack 1914 under the Leica brand. The Leica cameras, launched in 1925, revolutionized the photography industry of the time. For this reason, the revolutionary innovations brought by Leica cameras to the development of press photography are covered in this study. Compared to other cameras of the time, the small size of Leica cameras provided ease of transportation. The 35mm film format offering high quality and fast performance greatly contributed to the development of photographic art. Leica's small, portable cameras enabled photographers to work quickly and dynamically in the field, accelerating the transformation of press photography both artistically and technically. These cameras, which captured dramatic moments in events, allowed journalists to document incidents in real-time. This technological development increased the influence of photography in the media and allowed these photographs to reach large audiences. Furthermore, the concept of the "decisive moment" introduced by Henri Cartier-Bresson is discussed in this article as a critical concept for understanding photography's artistic and emotional dimensions. According to Bresson, the decisive moment is when the subject within the photograph, its emotions, and compositional values are presented in perfect harmony. Since it emerged as a photographic philosophy, the "decisive moment" concept has maintained its importance. The article examines the processes by which press photographers document events through Bresson's approach. In addition, the historical development of international photography agencies such as Magnum Photos and the role of photojournalists who documented significant events in world history through these agencies are among the topics examined in the literature. During this process, agencies provided documentary photographs and influenced how societies perceived and remembered events. At the center of the study, images from the assassinations of Japan's Social Democratic Party leader, Inejiro Asanuma, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and attempts on the life of the 45th President of the United States, Donald John Trump, are given as examples of such photographic representations. The shock effect created by these assassination images in societies, along with their constant recollection through media tools and popular culture, and the important roles these representations play in the reconstruction of society are examined. These iconic assassination images in photographic history were produced by photojournalists at the right time and place and with intuitive, decisive moments. The concept of the "decisive moment," introduced by Henri Cartier-Bresson and still used by photographers today, demonstrates its ongoing importance as a significant concept. It can be said that new iconic moments continue to be added to the history of photography, with new photographic representations produced based on this concept. Depending on the events and situations these iconic photographs represent, they are seen to play an important role in shaping societies. In this study, a qualitative research method based on purposeful sampling and literature review is adopted to examine the role of photographic art in recording social events and constructing social memory. The research focuses on iconic press photographs that have left deep marks on social memory. The photographic representations of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Inejiro Asanuma, and Donald John Trump serve as important examples to understand the critical role photography plays in the reconstruction of social memory. The purposive sampling method aims to consciously select and examine these photographs to understand how societies remember these events and how photographs contribute to this process. The theoretical framework of the research is formed by the literature review method. In this context, academic articles, books related to the field, and studies on international press photography that discuss the relationship between press photography and social memory have been meticulously examined. Studies on the function of photography as visual evidence and its place in the world of the press have formed the foundation of this research.</span></p>