The art of capturing an instant

Francesc Català-Roca had very clear ideas about his trade: "The photographer is always hesitating: which angle to choose, which aperture, which speed, which type of film... but the photographer must never hesitate when it comes to pressing the shutter."

This commandment - which precedes Henri Cartier-Bresson's theory of the "decisive moment" - was coined by one of the most important European documentary photographers of the 20th century. Now, 184 of his shots are on display at Barcelona's La Pedrera building. The Catalan took these pictures during his numerous journeys across Spain between 1950 and 1960, when the publisher Destino asked him to illustrate a few regional guidebooks.

His portraits did not just act as mirrors, but also served to "dignify poverty"

As the artist Frederic Amat says in a short documentary that closes the exhibition, Català-Roca's portraits did not just act as mirrors, but also served to "dignify poverty."

Proof of this are the everyday scenes captured in Cuenca, Toledo, Murcia and Ibiza, which show that the ever-discreet Català-Roca liked to stay away from the large cities. Still, in Madrid and Barcelona the photographer took shots that have become part of the collective memory, such as one of a group of young ladies strolling down Gran Vía, or that of the worker on Paseo de Recoletos, taken around 1953.

The show is the result of a partnership between the Barrié and Catalunya Caixa foundations, and was previously on show in Vigo. At its Barcelona stop, and thanks to contributions from the Association of Architects, it includes 43 examples of architectural photography that have rarely been shown in public before.

Francesc Català-Roca. Until September 25 at La Pedrera, Passeig de Gracia 92, Barcelona. Call 902 400 973 for more information.