By Francesca Lungarotti
“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” – Dorothea Lange
One of the most powerful characteristics of photography is to capture the moment, that fraction of time after which the action and image could appear completely different from a moment before.
Photography has always chased the moment, perfect or not but certainly unrepeatable.
In this selection from UIG’s collections of historical and contemporary images you will find moments captured, quite unrepeatable, providing the sense of balance achieved, casual or natural.
Monkeys crossing road on power line Cherating, Malaysia. Credit: Andrew Woodley/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Los Angeles, California, circa 1955. Stunt woman Donna Hall doing a Roman Stand on a galloping horse. Credit: Underwood Archives/Universal Images Group 
Ballerina dressed up with her wedding dress, in position with her ballet shoes. Model relased photo. Credit: Kike Calvo/Universal Images Group 
Sarasota, Florida, March 14, 1946. Acrobats and aerialists practice their craft with the arrival of spring at the winter quarters of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Credit: Underwood Archives/Universal Images Group 
Paris, France, 1928. Acrobats performing for Billy Arnold’s Transvariety show. Credit: Underwood Archives/Universal Images Group 
Intha fisherman balancing while holding conical bamboo frame with fishing net, Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe, Shan State, Myanmar / Burma. Credit: Arterra/Universal Images Group 
Street artist. Jaisalmer. Rajasthan, India Credit: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1942. The Naittos, a Chinese family tightrope act that performs with the circus. Credit: Underwood Archives/Universal Images Group 
A young man slacklining or highlining hundreds of feet above Mineral Canyon near Moab, Utah during a highline gathering. Credit: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
Circus. Lion on thread. Credit: Touring Club Italiano//Universal Images Group 
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India. Credit: Universal Images Group 
Female Alaskan Malamute on a beach shaking water off her coat, Cornwall, UK. Credit: Nik Taylor/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Abstract background with composition of balanced grey geometric objects sphere and stones. Credit: Natasha Breen/Reda&Co/Universal Images Group 
Old archival black and white photograph from the 1920s showing acrobats / performers practicing balancing act outside circus tent. Credit: Philippe Clément/Arterra/Universal Images Group 
Malagasy boy plays with a home-made toy. Credit: Kike Calvo/Universal Images Group 
J. Reynolds, acrobat, performing acrobatic and balancing acts on top of building above 9th Street NW in Washington D.C. circa 1917. Credit: HUM Images/Universal Images Group 
Kids playing on Jiquilillo beach, Chinandega, Nicaragua. Credit: Elisa Navarro/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
A member of the senior department of a gymnastic club performing a balance exercise at a high bar on a sporting ground, Germany 1930s. Credit: United Archives/Universal Images Group 
Historic image in black and white of a photographer sitting on a slender girder above fifth avenue in New York City with a stereocamera, circa 1905; New York City, USA. Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
French Alps. Mont-Blanc massif. Woman doing yoya meditation in the snow. Saint-Gervais. France. Credit: Godong/Universal Images Group 
Two women drinking water from a well of the spa resort at Stuttgart Cannstatt, Germany 1930s. Credit: United Archives/Universal Images Group 
Flyboarder in silhouette leans into dive, trailing water droplets from his hand. Torba, Mugla Province, Turkey. Credit: Nick Dale/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group 
Alborea traditional flamenco tablao dancer with music in the city center of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. Credit: Sergi Reboredo/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
Bora Wind. City Center. Trieste. Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. Credit: Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group
All images featured in this post and on Kaleidoscope are available for licensing. Please contact us at info@universalimagesgroup.com