First you study photography, then you practice photography, then you serve photography, and finally one becomes photography.
Interpretation
The quote outlines the progression of becoming a true artist through education, practice, service, and ultimately integration with one's art.
Ralph Gibson's quote reflects on the journey of mastering photography as an art form. It emphasizes that one must first learn the technical aspects of photography, then dedicate time to practice, followed by sharing their knowledge and skill with others, before finally reaching a level where photography becomes an intrinsic part of their identity. This illustrates a deep commitment to the art and shows how personal expression can evolve from discipline to embodiment.
In practice
A photographer might use this quote to inspire students at a workshop about the stages of becoming an artist.
Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode - from the snapshot to the decisive moment to multi-media montage - the intent and purpose of photography is to render in visual terms feelings and experiences that often elude the ability of words to describe. In any case, the eyes have it, and the imagination will always soar farther than was expected.
But the only rhyme he could summon for 'out' was 'sauerkraut,' which lacked poetic glory. He let it go. The right line would come in time. That was the thing about poetry. It crept up through the draws and coulees of the brain.
I don't like standard beauty - there is no beauty without strangeness.
I'd love to just think of myself as a filmmaker, and I wait for the day when the modifier can be a moot point.
Art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstones of our judgement. The artist... faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility against an intrusive society and an offensive state.
From the point of view of art, the butcher and the victim are equal as people. You need to see the people.
A work of art is good if it has arisen out of necessity. That is the only way one can judge it.
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