“I think when you practice photography or observation, you're on high alert. You polish up your antenna and stick up your head, and you're out there. You're receptive, appreciative of details. It heightens reality. You're trying to step into your alertness.” ThinkingTryingRealityStepsPracticePhotographySticksDetailsObservationPolishReceptiveAppreciativeAlertnessAntenna Author:Debra Granik
“The idea that the snapshot would be thought of as a cult or movement is very tiresome to me and, I'm sure, confusing to others. It's a swell word I've always liked. It probably came about because it describes a basic fact of photography. In a snap, or small portion of time, all that the camera can consume in breadth and bite and light is rendered in astonishing detail: all the leaves on a tree, as well as the tree itself and all its surroundings.” WellsIdeasFactsLightWould BeTreeMovementPhotographyCamerasDetailsBitesPortionsCultConfusingSurroundingsAstonishingSnapsBreadthSnapshotsTiresome Author:Lee Friedlander
“We have a long history of snapshot photography that appeared to many to be more arbitrary and idiosyncratic than much of the work of professionals. We valued it for what it could tell us about the details of people's daily lives.” PeopleLongPhotographyDetailsDaily LifeArbitrarySnapshots Author:Fred Ritchin
“The idea of photography as evidence is pure bullshit. A photo is no more proof of any reality than what you may hear being said by someone in a bus. We only record details, small fragments of the world.” WorldMaySaidIdeasRealityRecordsPurePhotographyEvidenceDetailsProofBusBullshitFragments Author:Marc Riboud
“Photography mirrored the [nineteenth century] will towards rigor, towards defining details, the need for miniscule description, the long-distance optics, for technology at the service of truth, for concepts of credibility, of objectivity, the need to archive, for the consolidation of institutions like the museum, in short, towards a need to control memory.” NeedsLongMemoriesTechnologyCenturyPhotographyConceptsInstitutionsDistanceDetailsDescriptionMuseumsDefiningCredibilityObjectivityNineteenth CenturyLong DistanceArchivesRigorConsolidationOptics Author:Joan Fontcuberta
“I start with no preconceived idea - discovery excites me to focus - then rediscovery through the lens - final form of presentation seen on ground glass, the finished print previsioned completely in every detail of texture, movement, proportion, before exposure - the shutter's release automatically and finally fixes my conception, allowing no after manipulation - the ultimate end, the print, is but a duplication of all that I saw and felt through my camera.” IdeasEndsFormFeltSawsFocusMovementPhotographyDiscoveryUltimateCamerasFinalsPhotographerGlassesDetailsFinishedReleaseProportionManipulationPrintAllowingConceptionLensesExposurePresentationTextureShuttersPreconceived IdeasRediscoveryDuplication Book:Edward Weston on photography Source: Edward Weston on photography
“I always choose an area that is of personal interest, but I don't plan my travels in detail. There are so many variables one cannot predict: the changing light, weather, personal mood, and often just plain luck. Of course, you must have a starting point, so I establish some fixed points then improvise as I go. In many cases the locations seem to choose me.” LightSeemsCoursesInterestCasesPlansPhotographyAreasLuckPhotographerStartingDetailsMoodWeatherFixedLocationStarting PointVariablesPersonal InterestChoose Me Author:Josef Hoflehner
“At the root of creativity is an impulse to understand, to make sense of random and often unrelated details. For me, photography provides an intersection of time, space, light, and emotional stance. One needs to be still enough, observant enough, and aware enough to recognize the life of the materials, to be able to 'hear through the eyes'.” NeedsArtStillsEnoughLightEyeAbleSpaceCreativityEmotionalMaterialsPhotographyRootsPhotographerDetailsImpulseMake SenseStanceThrough The EyesIntersectionsObservant Book:New England Days Source: New England Days