Copyright 1997 Scott Bourne – All Rights Reserved
I’m going to start publishing famous or inspiring photo quotes each month. If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments section. Here’s one of mine.
“Art is an end in itself. Technique a means to that end: one can be taught the other cannot, for it is the quality which we bring into the world with us, and lacking it as an integral part, no amount of study will enable one to acquire it.”
EDWARD WESTON
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“I have often thought that if photography were difficult in the true sense of the term — meaning that the creation of a simple photograph would entail as much time and effort as the production of a good watercolor or etching — there would be a vast improvement in total output. The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image often leads to creative disaster.”
–Ansel Adams
How true this has become in our time. This is a constant reminder for me to slow down and focus on each shot; volume never equals quality.
“I have often thought that if photography were difficult in the true sense of the term — meaning that the creation of a simple photograph would entail as much time and effort as the production of a good watercolor or etching — there would be a vast improvement in total output. The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image often leads to creative disaster.”
–Ansel Adams
How true this has become in our time. This is a constant reminder for me to slow down and focus on each shot; volume never equals quality.
Great quote. I have often heard that it is possible to learn the technique to become a good photographer but the eye of a great photographer is something you are born with.
Great quote. I have often heard that it is possible to learn the technique to become a good photographer but the eye of a great photographer is something you are born with.
It is all about the image. Thanks for quoting Weston.
Cheers,
David
It is all about the image. Thanks for quoting Weston.
Cheers,
David
“One of the reasons I like photographs is that people don’t have to speak any language to understand what I want to say.” Me :)
“One of the reasons I like photographs is that people don’t have to speak any language to understand what I want to say.” Me :)
“Stupid features for stupid people.”
-Ron Brinkmann
“Stupid features for stupid people.”
-Ron Brinkmann
Hmm, not really feeling inspired by this quote, more dispirited, to paraphrase ‘put as much effort as you want into photography there’s a decent possibility you’ll never be any good at it’.
:)
Hmm, not really feeling inspired by this quote, more dispirited, to paraphrase ‘put as much effort as you want into photography there’s a decent possibility you’ll never be any good at it’.
:)
Two quotes from Louis Armstrong put the idea in your quote quite succinctly when asked by a reporter to define what Jazz was.
“If you gotta ask you’ll never know”
Also
“We all do ‘do, re, mi,’ but you have got to find the other notes yourself.”
Two quotes from Louis Armstrong put the idea in your quote quite succinctly when asked by a reporter to define what Jazz was.
“If you gotta ask you’ll never know”
Also
“We all do ‘do, re, mi,’ but you have got to find the other notes yourself.”
Ah, it’s not quite that bad. There’s a huge difference between being an ‘artist’ and being a good photographer. You can subscribe to the ‘god-given talent’ idea, accepting that only a few will every produce what will be considered ‘art’, and at the same time realise that you CAN develop a fine ‘eye’.
We’re not born with the ability to read, but have to learn; the same is true of being able to ‘see’, and anyone can, given enough time, patience, attitude and good tuition, learn to understand the principles of form, balance, rhythm, colour, line, shape, contrast, focus, etc etc that constitutes good design.
Ah, it’s not quite that bad. There’s a huge difference between being an ‘artist’ and being a good photographer. You can subscribe to the ‘god-given talent’ idea, accepting that only a few will every produce what will be considered ‘art’, and at the same time realise that you CAN develop a fine ‘eye’.
We’re not born with the ability to read, but have to learn; the same is true of being able to ‘see’, and anyone can, given enough time, patience, attitude and good tuition, learn to understand the principles of form, balance, rhythm, colour, line, shape, contrast, focus, etc etc that constitutes good design.
I’ve got to go with Robert Capa.
“If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”
This quote hits on many levels, emotional, visual etc.
I’ve got to go with Robert Capa.
“If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”
This quote hits on many levels, emotional, visual etc.
One of the most pretentious quotes I’ve ever read. Even a free spirit like Andy Warhol understood that without good honest ‘work’ art can not progress and flourish, regardless of God given talent!
One of the most pretentious quotes I’ve ever read. Even a free spirit like Andy Warhol understood that without good honest ‘work’ art can not progress and flourish, regardless of God given talent!
“The word ‘art’ is very slippery. It really has no importance in relation to one’s work. I work for the pleasure, for the pleasure of the work, and everything else is a matter for the critics.” -Manuel Alvarez Bravo
“The word ‘art’ is very slippery. It really has no importance in relation to one’s work. I work for the pleasure, for the pleasure of the work, and everything else is a matter for the critics.” -Manuel Alvarez Bravo
Jeff I don’t think you understood what he was saying. Your statement about Warhol illustrates that point. He’s not saying you don’t have to work. He’s saying that WORKING doesn’t make you an artist. Not pretentious at all in my view.
Jeff I don’t think you understood what he was saying. Your statement about Warhol illustrates that point. He’s not saying you don’t have to work. He’s saying that WORKING doesn’t make you an artist. Not pretentious at all in my view.
if art (small a) isn’t a labor (even of love) what is it? The never ending questioning that transpires through every artist is the crucible through which resolution achieves a statement.
if art (small a) isn’t a labor (even of love) what is it? The never ending questioning that transpires through every artist is the crucible through which resolution achieves a statement.
I love this one…
If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera. ~Lewis Hine
I love this one…
If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera. ~Lewis Hine
I have to say that I mostly disagree with the comment above. Yes, it may not be possible to be as good as a great artist (in their unique style), and there are those who simply don’t get some things, but for the most part, if you hang around someone who is great for long enough it will rub off. From personal experience, I can say it was not the one who is the most brilliant that ends up the best, but the one that keeps on doing it, and keeps looking for ways to develop their craft. We all are better when we get around talented people, but in variably they are talented because they kept showing up for those early morning shoots when everyone else was still in bed, and were in the lab well into the early hours.
I guess that is a plug to get around Scott, or any good photographer, and go on his workshop tours. Soak it in. Osmosis works!
I have to say that I mostly disagree with the comment above. Yes, it may not be possible to be as good as a great artist (in their unique style), and there are those who simply don’t get some things, but for the most part, if you hang around someone who is great for long enough it will rub off. From personal experience, I can say it was not the one who is the most brilliant that ends up the best, but the one that keeps on doing it, and keeps looking for ways to develop their craft. We all are better when we get around talented people, but in variably they are talented because they kept showing up for those early morning shoots when everyone else was still in bed, and were in the lab well into the early hours.
I guess that is a plug to get around Scott, or any good photographer, and go on his workshop tours. Soak it in. Osmosis works!
LOL. I hope history doesn’t judge me by that quote alone :-)
LOL. I hope history doesn’t judge me by that quote alone :-)
When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams
When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams