“I have this awareness that the more dynamic the situation is, the more on guard I need to be that the dynamic isn't controlling the situation. I found that myself in the Galapagos. For the first time in my life I was around very exotic animals, colorful, beautiful, and immediately present, all around. Birds, turtles, iguanas, seals. I was being seduced by their exoticism, I was taking pictures.The pictures weren't well lit, there was no moment in play, there was no depth to the pictures. I was just gawking with my camera at something I'd never seen before.” NeedsFirstsWellsPlayMomentsBeautifulFoundAnimalSituationAwarenessBirdFirst TimeCamerasDepthLitExoticSealsColorfulTurtlesTaking PicturesIguanasExotic Animals Author:Sam Abell
“For example, in my dorm, at the University of Kentucky, I had the only camera. I don't think anyone came to college with a camera, other than me.” ThinkingExampleCollegeCamerasUniversityKentuckyDorms Author:Sam Abell
“My first priority when taking pictures is to achieve clarity. A good documentary photograph transmits the information of the situation with the utmost fidelity; achieving it means understanding the nuances of lighting and composition, and also remembering to keep the lenses clean and the cameras steady.” FirstsMeanRememberUnderstandingSituationAchieveInformationPhotographyCamerasCleanPhotographerPhotographPrioritiesClaritySteadyCompositionDocumentariesLensesFidelityLightingNuanceTransmitTaking Pictures Author:Sam Abell
“But there is more to a fine photograph than information. We are also seeking to present an image that arouses the curiosity of the viewer or that, best of all, provokes the viewer to think-to ask a question or simply to gaze in thoughtful wonder. We know that photographs inform people. We also know that photographs move people. The photograph that does both is the one we want to see and make. It is the kind of picture that makes you want to pick up your own camera again and go to work.” PeopleThinkingKnowsWantKindDoeMovingAsksWonderInformationFinePhotographyPicksCamerasCuriosityPhotographerPhotographSeekingThoughtfulProvokingViewers Author:Sam Abell
“As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” MomentsShowsPleasureSpecialProducePhotographyCamerasPhotographerPhotographSimplicitySomething SpecialCamera And PhotographyCapturing A Moment Photography Author:Sam Abell
“I was known as a 35-mm photographer with a view-camera mentality.” ViewsKnownCamerasPhotographerMentality Author:Sam Abell
