The more I photograph women, the less it is about transformation. Women are beautiful. All that really matters is enhancing that.
It's a choice - there are two different sorts of photographer: those obsessed with the technicalities and those obsessed by the subject.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that photographers can be divided into two types based on their focus: the technical aspects of photography or the subjects they capture.
Mario Testino's quote highlights the fundamental choice photographers make in their craft; they can either prioritize the intricate technical details of photography, such as lighting and equipment, or they can immerse themselves in the emotional and narrative qualities of their subjects. This distinction reflects broader perspectives in art, where the artist's intent and focus greatly influence their creations and the connection they establish with their audience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a photography workshop to highlight different approaches to the craft.
More from Mario Testino
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I want to sound like an instrument. I want my voice and my words to marry the beat. I go with the rhythm of it and the words start to come to my mind and those words could be based on things that's been on my mind for the past year, the past month, the past week, whatever; I write it.
To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart
With all art expression, when something is seen, it is a vivid experience, sudden, compelling, and inevitable.
There is always an emotional element to anything that you make.
Art is not a democracy. People don't get to vote on how it ends.
You see, dancers are quite mature people because they start performing so early. They become professionals when they start to take everyday classes.