Home / Quotes / Quote by Peter Menzel

Quote by Peter Menzel

“To me a translator is very, very important. If the fixer is also the translator, so much the better. I have known photographers who didn't speak the language and would work in a place for weeks without one, getting by on common sense and smiles. But how many situations did they miss because they couldn't talk to someone and get the back story on details, small daily life things, etc.”

Quote by Peter Menzel

Author

Peter Menzel, born on February 7, 1948, is a renowned writer whose works span a wide range of topics including travel, nature, and anthropology. Menzel is known for his unique photographic and writing style, often exploring the relationship between humans and the natural environment. more

You May Also Like

“It's important to get a translator who will ask the questions in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Knowing the ethnicity issues, the tribal issues in some places...who your translator is can mean a lot.”

Way Mean Important Asks Knowing Issues Sensitive Thoughtful Ethnicity Translators

Author:Peter Menzel

“I don't shoot many corporate or commercial jobs, but when you do, you had better have someone helping who has done it before.”

Done Helping Jobs Corporate

Author:Peter Menzel

“Freelancing in Somalia during their civil war and in Kuwait right after the first Bush War, I had some rather intense experiences that made life in the U.S. seem rather shallow and superfluous.”

Firsts Made War Seems Intense Civil War Shallow Superfluous Somalia Kuwait

Author:Peter Menzel

“We live in an idiotic capitalist self-indulgent society where the sex life of a pop star is more important than impending starvation, land mines and child soldiers in Africa, or more interesting than the world's biggest man-made natural disaster in oil fields of the Middle East.”

“It is tough being patient when you are more than a half million dollars in debt.”

Half Millions Tough Dollars Patient Debt Million Dollars

Author:Peter Menzel

“The fact that a thirteen-year-old project still resonates and can still have a large exhibit with lots of newspaper, magazine and TV press shows the timelessness of the project.”

Years Stills Facts Shows Tvs Projects Presses Newspapers Magazines Exhibits Thirteen Timelessness Thirteen Year Olds

Author:Peter Menzel

“Europeans still read rather than watching TV or listening to their clergyman tell them how to vote. The European magazines are far superior to American magazines in content and readership, but TV is taking a bite out of circulation now even in Europe.”

Stills Tvs Listening Europe Vote Superiors Magazines Bites Circulation Clergymen Watching Tv Readership

Author:Peter Menzel

“Pre-planning is essential. Research, research, research. If you are going to do a portrait, know as much as you can about the person beforehand. The web makes this very easy.”

Ifs Knows Persons Easy Essentials Research Planning Portraits

Author:Peter Menzel

“Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options that present themselves at the location. Be flexible, and be patient. Leave ego at home. Get the photo before you yell at the asshole, not after.”

Thinking Want Home Ego Blind Patient Location Flexible Be Patient

Author:Peter Menzel

“Everyone should understand that getting good photos is paramount to everything. You have to do what it takes and often comfort and sleep are the first casualties of an assignment.”

Should Firsts Sleep Comfort Assignments Casualties Paramount Good Photo

Author:Peter Menzel