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Quote by Christian Metz

“The person who has been photographed, not the total person, is dead, dead for having been seen.”

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Christian Metz, born on December 12, 1931 and died in 1993, was one of the most influential film theorists of the 20th century. He is known for his pioneering work in film semiotics, narrative theory, and ideological analysis. more

“Photography is linked with death in many different ways. The most immediate and explicit is the social practice of keeping photographs in memory of loved beings who are no longer alive. But there is another real death which each of us undergoes every day, as each day we draw nearer to our own death. Even when the person photographed is still living, that moment when she or he was has forever vanished.”

Way Persons Stills Different Real Moments Social Memories Practice Forever Alive Photography Draws Photograph Different Ways Each Day That Moment Linked Explicit

Author:Christian Metz

“I would say that the off-frame effect in photography results from a singular and definitive cutting-off which figures castration and is figured by the click of the shutter.”

Results Cutting Effects Figures Photography Clicks Shutters Cutting Off Castration

Author:Christian Metz

“The importance of immobility and silence to photographic authority, the nonfilmic nature of this authority, leads me to some remarks on the relationship of photography with death. Immobility and silence are not only two objective aspects of death, they are also its main symbols, they figure it.”

Two Silence Figures Authority Photography Aspect Importance Objectives Symbols Remarks Leading Me

Author:Christian Metz

“Photography is the mirror, more faithful than any actual mirror, in which we witness at every age, our own aging. The actual mirror accompanies us through time, thoughtfully and treacherously; it changes with us, so that we appear not to change.”

Age Photography Mirrors Aging Witness Faithful Accompany Rough Times Accompany Us

Author:Christian Metz

“I don't need exotic places to be stimulated. Out of familiarity comes nuance. The more you revisit a subject the more you're like to discover.”

Needs Subjects Familiarity Exotic Nuance Exotic Places

Author:Ray Metzker

“I never wanted to make portraits - to photograph celebrities, beautiful people, beautiful landscapes, beautiful buildings, or people in distressing situations.... I have always been interested in everyman - average, ordinary people in everyday situations.”

People Wanted Beautiful Situation Building Ordinary Everyday Photograph Average Landscape Portraits Ordinary People Beautiful People Distressing Everyman Beautiful Landscapes

Author:Ray Metzker

“What appears in the pictures was the subject's decision, not mine. I took what they presented - delicate moments - unadorned and unglamorous, yet tender and exquisite.”

Moments Decision Subjects Mines Delicate Exquisite

Author:Ray Metzker

“I am not an objective reporter. I prefer to go further, to the unstated things of our existence. What I can't understand and grasp seems to lead me.”

I Can Seems Existence Objectives Reporters Leading Me

Author:Ray Metzker

“The collection of photographs is a statement about the relationship of my camera and me.”

Cameras Photograph Statements Collections

Author:Ray Metzker

Quote by Christian Metz

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