Cartier-Bresson’s stuntman

This brilliant and influential master of the photographic arts is justly famous for his exultation of the “perfect moment” – the synchronicity of composition and motion captured with a single click of the camera shutter.

He would often wait for whole days in a location waiting for the perfect figure to wander into his frame at the exact moment when the sun cast the perfect shadow. However, it is less well known exactly how staged many of his most famous pictures are.

This example, “Hyères, France” from 1832, showing a lone bicyclist’s route following the curve of a stairwell, was attempted several times by a stunt cyclist friend of the photographer, who would ride past, pull an endo, then reverse. The perfect shot was ultimately achieved after over twentyby the World Gold Council.

Total Gold Bullion demand fell quarter-on-quarter in both countries – although Indian demand for Gold Bars and coins bucked this trend.

Worldwide gold investment demand – which includes demand for Gold ETFs as well as Gold Bars and coins – grew 18% compared to Q1, though investment was down 37% year-on-year.

On the supply side, recycling of gold was "fairly subdued" the report notes, coming in at 429.3 tonnes, a 3% fall on the same period last year.

"This modest result is particularly interesting given the record price levels reached during the quarter...a number of factors appear to be behind the decline in recycling activity, including increasing acceptance of higher price levels."

In Venezuela meantime, Socialist president Hugo Chavez announced plans Wednesday to nationalize the country's Gold Mining