“To chart a course, one must have a direction. In reality, the eye is no better than the philosophy behind it. The photographer creates, evolves a better, more selective, more acute eye by looking ever more sharply at what is going on in the world. Like every other means of expression, photography, if it is to be utterly honest and direct, should be related to the life of the times-the pulse of today. The photograph may be presented as finely and artistically as you will, but to merit serious consideration, must be directly connected with the world we live in.” IfsWorldShouldMayMeanPhilosophyRealityEyeTodayCoursesBehindsHonestSeriousExpressionPhotographyDirectPhotographerPhotographConnectedEvolveMeritRelatedConsiderationPulseSelective Author:Berenice Abbott
“I didn't want to be criticized for taking low-quality photographs, so I tried to reach the best, highest quality of photography and then to combine this with a conceptual art practice. But thinking back, that was the wrong decision [laughs]. Developing a low-quality aesthetic is a sign of serious fine art-I still see this.” ThinkingWantArtStillsDecisionQualityPracticeLaughingSeriousFinePhotographyHighestLowsPhotographerPhotographDevelopingAestheticFine ArtsWrong DecisionConceptual Art Author:Hiroshi Sugimoto
“It is not without trepidation that I have appropriated the codes of the Sublime and the Picturesque in my work. After all, serious photographers have spent most of this century trying to expunge such extravagances from their art. The tradition lives on, mostly in calendars and picture postcards. I was challenged to rework and revitalize that which had been so roundly denigrated.” TryingArtCenturySeriousTraditionPhotographerCodeSublimeCalendarsExtravagancePostcardsPicturesqueTrepidationRework Author:John Pfahl
“I think most serious photographers understand that there's this large gap between the world and how the world looks through a photograph.” ThinkingWorldLooksSeriousPhotographerPhotographGaps Author:Stephen Shore
“I'm always looking for perfection. Every photographer, in one way or another, if he's serious, is. He ain't ever going to get it. But hope springs eternal.” IfsWaySeriousEternalSpringPerfectionPhotographerOne Way Author:Phil Stern
“There are many aspects about what and why we photograph: visual pleasure, personal empathy, intellectual stimulation, technical excellence, etc. Serious photographers and artists will try to create works that are original. Over a career period they may develop a singular identity in their images.” TryingMayArtistPleasureCareersIdentitySeriousPeriodsIntellectualEmpathyAspectOriginalsExcellencePhotographerPhotographVisualsEtcStimulation Author:Michael Kenna