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Quote by Paul Strand

“The documentary photographer aims his camera at the real world to record truthfulness. At the same time, he must strive for form, to devise effective ways of organizing and using the material. For content and form are interrelated. The problems presented by content and form must be so developed that the result is fundimentally [sic] true to the realities of life as we know it. The chief problem is to find a form that adequately represents the reality.”

Quote by Paul Strand

Author

Paul Strand (October 16, 1890 – March 31, 1976) was an American photographer and filmmaker, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern photography. He is known for his commitment to the purity and objectivity of the photographic medium, producing works that range from urban landscapes and natural scenes to portraits and social documentaries. Strand was a key figure in the Straight Photography movement, emphasizing sharp focus, clear composition, and direct representation of reality. His early works, such as "Wall Street" (1915) and "Blind Woman" (1916), are considered landmarks in photographic history. Strand's influence extends to later photographers like Walker Evans and Robert Frank. He also ventured into filmmaking, contributing to documentary cinema. His legacy endures through his timeless images, which are held in major museums worldwide. more

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“I read the other day that Minor White said it takes twenty years to become a photographer. I think that is a bit of an exaggeration. I would say, judging from myself, that it takes at least eight or nine years. But it does not take any longer than it takes to learn to play the piano or the violin. If it takes twenty years, you might as well forget about it!”

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“For this very reason I refuse all the tricks of the trade and professional virtuosity which could make me betray my career. As soon as I find a subject which interests me, I leave it to the lens to record it truthfully. Look at the reporters and at the amateur photographer! They both have only one goal; to record a memory or a document. And that is pure photography.”

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“Sadism is all right in its place, but it should be directed to proper ends.”

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“The photographs are not illustrative. They, and the text, are coequal, mutually independent, and fully collaborative. By their fewness, and by the importance of the reader’s eye, this will be misunderstood by most of that minority which does not wholly ignore it. In the interests, however, of the history and future of photography, that risk seems irrelevant, and this flat statement necessary.”

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“Wilderness is rapidly becoming one of those aspects of the American dream which is more of the past than of the present. Wilderness is not only a condition of nature, but a state of mind and mood and heart. It cannot be confined to the museum-case status—seen only as a passing diorama from superlative throughways.”

Source: Celebrating the American Earth: a Portfolio