Photography Quotes

Ahhh, well I'm day number #2 here and I'm enjoying my look around. Might as well fire up one of those threads that pull people in. So jump in and friend me here.

 

I don't know about you all, however a good quote always motivates me and when I'm behind my camera it inspires me. Actually that goes both ways. Well you get the point. Who doesn't like a good boot in the tail end to wake up your creative juices?!

 

 

“Photography is an itch that won’t go away. No matter how much you scratch it.” — Dara McGrath

This quote speaks to me, because light fascinates me, in most cases when your own and about, you are freezing light, time and that will never happen again. I find that so intriguing.

 

 

Now your turn, post a quote that is meaningful to you today! ***After the quote, tell why it's meaningful to you***

 

 

 

Found big list of quotes pick one or find one else where and follow above directions: http://www.pta.lk/xmruk9v

Well, he's no photographer, but he had some great things to say and a great way of saying them.

 

Oscar Wilde

 

My favorite quote of his:

I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.

And a quote of his that relates to photography for me:

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.

I photograph people a lot and often like to capture personas or masks. The mystery behind a mask can reveal a lot. Photos with a bit of enigma often appeal to me.

 

I a big fan of Sebasiao Salgado:

 

 

Obviously, I'm nowhere near the same level as the master that he is, but those words speak to me...

 

Volcan Poas, Costa Rica

 

http://www.leonin.net/img/s/v-2/p1409902861-5.jpg

There is one thing the photographer must contain ,the humanity of the moment.....

 

Which is not obvious to the casual viewer.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Allen Herbert

"expose for shadows, develop the highlights"

 

Hmm... my favorite photo

quote is, "Developer FIRST,

you idiot! Then comes the

fixer..."

http://bayouline.com/o2.gif

I have to say that I'm rather fond of some quotes of Elliot Erwitt, such as,

“It’s about time we started to take photography seriously and treat it as a hobby.” – Elliott Erwitt

"You see but you do not observe." S. Holmes to J. Watson

 

 

I always try to look deeply into the camera image viewfinder to observe distracting elements -, telephone poles, reflections in windows, etc. and encourage others to do the same.

"If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough." - Robert Cappa

There was an old Hippocratic Oath of a Photographer by M.F. Agha in 1937. I probably can't reproduce it here due to copyright, but it listed all manner of things that are cliches or just plain bad taste to photograph. A search will turn it up easily. The very last line is "In fact, if I can help it, I will refrain from taking any pictures of any description, under any pretext whatsoever." Sometimes that's the best policy.

"In fact, if I can help it, I will refrain from taking any pictures of any description, under any pretext whatsoever." Sometimes that's the best policy.

I agree. I think we overdocument out lives these days. I suppose you could argue that it's better that photography costs almost nothing, but then again, maybe not. I believe in being prolific when it matters, though.

 

My choice:

 

"CinemaScope is Hollywood." Linus Sandgren FSF

 

There is much I can say about how cinematography has taught me how to be a better photographer. But that is for another time. I love this quote because, in general, it reminds us that aspect ratio is in fact a part of the composition, and it communicates to the viewer just as much as composition, tonality or colour.

 

FYI: Sandgren shot La La Land.

I may not be exact and I think it was from Winogrand: "I photograph to see what things look like as a photograph."

"Fortunately, taking a picture leaves no mark." Edward S. Curtis

If you carry a gun and a camera, try to remember which is which." Me.

"Fortunately, taking a picture leaves no mark." Edward S. Curtis

 

A photograph leaves a mark for posterity for those who follow us.

 

A gun leaves a mark of destruction for posterity recording the destructive nature of humanity.

My absolutely favorite photography truth:

 

"I think a photography class should be required in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it." - anonymous

 

When I first started photography, I was amazed at how much more detail I saw in my usual environment.

"I think a photography class should be required in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it." - anonymous

When I first started photography, I was amazed at how much more detail I saw in my usual environment.

And that seeing guarantees or even implies that you understand what you see? I dearly love photography, but can think of myriad more useful required courses.

 

A gun leaves a mark of destruction for posterity recording the destructive nature of humanity.

"To disarm the people...(i)s the most effectual way to enslave them."

- George Mason

"To disarm the people...(i)s the most effectual way to enslave them."

- George Mason

Here's a disarming young woman I know. I don't see what the problem is! :p

 

Walker Evans: "Stare. It is the way to educate your eye and more. Stare, pry, listen eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long. Concern yourself not with the question whether the medium, photography ,is art. The question is dated and absurd to begin with. You are art or not; whatever you produce is or isn't. And don't think about that either; just do, act."

From Wiki

Man Ray not only purchased a number of Atget's photographs but used During the Eclipse for the cover of his surrealist magazine la Révolution surréaliste. When he asked Atget if he could use his photo Atget said: "Don't put my name on it. These are simply documents I make."

I dearly love photography, but can think of myriad more useful required courses.

I think art classes (I wouldn't specify just photography) are useful to kids who find them so. I also think a minimum of exposure to art is part of a well-rounded education. I took several art-related classes when I was an undergraduate (getting a liberal arts degree) and benefitted from them, but it was by choice. I think they should be available at a college level, perhaps even encouraged, but not required except, obviously, for certain majors.

And that seeing guarantees or even implies that you understand what you see?

Not necessarily. It just may be that "understanding" what you see is not the point at times. I actually think it helps sometimes to see more abstractly, and not with too much understanding. Which is not to put down understanding, which I'm very much in favor of. It just isn't always the goal.

From Gerry Winogrand: "Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts."