Home / Quotes / Quote by Sam Abell

Quote by Sam Abell

“Even though I teach with 35mm, my method takes people by surprise, because it isn't fast, and it isn't about hardware or software, or even great results. It's about great process.”

Quote by Sam Abell

Author

Sam Abell is a renowned American photographer, born on February 19, 1945. His photography focuses on natural landscapes and humanistic documentation, characterized by a unique style and widespread acclaim. more

You May Also Like

“My connection to Santa Fe is very closely, and continuously a connection with Reid. I believe in him and his philosophy of photographic education.”

Believe Philosophy I Believe Connections I Believe In Santa Santa Fe

Author:Sam Abell

“Increasingly, it's people not interested in National Geographic.”

People Not Interested National Geographic

Author:Sam Abell

“In the last workshop I taught, a woman flew in from Thailand. She's a medical doctor in Bangkok. I asked her in her one-on-one session where she wanted photography to be in her life.Did she want a second career? Was it about earning money? Or was it art? And she said "None of those. I want photography to be serious in my life." It would be like someone wanting music, like piano playing, to be a richer, deeper, and maybe even harder experience.”

“That's who comes to my workshops. I jokingly tell my students that the class could be called "Your photographs: Better."”

Class Students Photograph Workshops

Author:Sam Abell

“Though Geographic didn't publish that photo in the story that it was done for, "The Life of Charlie Russell," a cowboy artist in Montana. But later, maybe a year and a half ago, they named it one of the 50 greatest pictures ever made at National Geographic.”

Years Made Done Stories Artist Half Cowboy Publish Charlie Montana National Geographic

Author:Sam Abell

“There are things that I teach, about building photographs, and that's why people come to my workshops. When people come to the workshops, they're consumed with seeking the subject, and I teach seeking the setting.”

People Teach Subjects Building Photograph Seeking Setting Settings Consumed Workshops

Author:Sam Abell

“I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on that campaign. Ernst Haas had done the early photography, and I knew him. There's a lore in photography about that campaign, and I was curious.”

Done Photography Curiosity Photographer Campaigns Curious Legendary National Geographic

Author:Sam Abell

“Richard Prince's most famous photograph was made by me.”

Made Photograph

Author:Sam Abell

“I will just say, appropriation is an intellectual idea until it happens to you. It's a philosophy, and it's got its own intellectual framework. Then there's what happens when it's your photograph. Then it's personal, and that's all I'll say.”

Ideas Philosophy Happens Intellectual Photograph Framework Appropriation

Author:Sam Abell

“The reason I don't want to say anything about it is it has a strange power to take over the conversation. Just like it's doing with us. I was asked to participate in a documentary about Richard Prince, and be the voice of someone who was appropriated, and I declined. The reason I did is I don't want it to be the subject of the discussion of my work.”

Want Reason Voice Subjects Strange Conversation Discussion Say Anything Documentaries

Author:Sam Abell