Home / Authors / Philip Jones Griffiths Biography

Philip Jones Griffiths Biography

Photojournalist

Philip Jones Griffiths was a renowned war photographer, best known for his coverage of the Vietnam War. His work profoundly documented the cruelty of war and the suffering of ordinary people, leaving a lasting impact on posterity.

Two Would Be Film Thousand Thirds Assuming Colour Exposed Venture Ruined Spoiled Loaded Cassettes Cartier Monochrome

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“I attempt to channel my anger into the tip of my forefinger as I press the shutter.”

Presses Shutters

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“Real photography is a wonderfully inclusive, democratic medium, whereas art photography is more often a private pursuit by conmen.”

Art Real Photography Democratic Pursuit Mediums Art Photography

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“When Bill Gates started Corbis we were told that he needed images to fill those digital picture frames in his home, and many found this plausible. But now it's pretty clear that he's set out to control the visual history of the twentieth century.”

Home Found Clear Century Needed Bills Visuals Digital Gates Twentieth Century Plausible Picture Frames

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“Content alone is propaganda; form alone is wallpaper.”

Form Propaganda

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“[Photojournalism] really is the only branch of photography that's a credit to our profession. We see, we understand; we see more, we understand more.”

Photography Credit Profession Branches Photojournalism

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“What we get to think and know about the world is in the hands of a very few... A truly informed public is antithetical to the interests of modern consumer capital.”

Thinking Knows World Hands Interest Modern Consumers

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“The first picture of his I ever saw was during a lecture at the Rhyl camera club. I was 16 and the speaker was Emrys Jones. He projected the picture upside down. Deliberately, to disregard the subject matter to reveal the composition. It's a lesson I've never forgotten.”

Firsts Matter Saws Subjects Lessons Photography Cameras Forgotten Clubs Speakers Composition Lectures Subject Matter Upside Down Disregard

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“Even if not a single picture is never published, they exist. And that means that we are recording the history of the human race. If that's all your doing, it still a very very worth while profession to be involved in.”

Ifs Humans Mean Stills Race Involved Photography Profession Human Race Single Picture

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“The only thing we photographers really want more than life, more than sex, more than anything, is to be invisible.”

Want Sex Photographer Invisible

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“The ability to keep things in perspective is very important for a journalist. In a tense situation you need the ability to be there, yet somehow step aside; to keep a cool head and keep working without getting frustrated.”

Needs Important Ability Situation Steps Perspective Journalist Frustrated Tense

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“People believe pictures. It's a photograph that's in your passport, not a painting. Now, George Bernard Shaw said, 'I would exchange every painting of Christ for one snapshot.' That's what the power of photography is.”

People Believe Said Christ Painting Photography Photograph Passports Snapshots Bernard Shaw

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

“... we are there with our cameras to record reality. Once we start modifying that which exists, we are robbing photography of its most valuable attribute.”

Reality Records Photography Cameras Valuable Attributes Robbing Modifying

Author:Philip Jones Griffiths

About the Author

Born: February 18, 1936
Died: March 19, 2008
Known for: Photojournalist
Quotes: 13

Books & Sources

Similar Authors

Bill JayBrowse related quotes
John SzarkowskiBrowse related quotes
Keith CarterBrowse related quotes
Eliot PorterBrowse related quotes
Edward WestonBrowse related quotes
Andreas FeiningerBrowse related quotes
Sebastiao SalgadoBrowse related quotes
Elliott ErwittBrowse related quotes
Jay MaiselBrowse related quotes
Ken OosterbroekBrowse related quotes

Philip Jones Griffiths Biography

Related Quotes