The photo is a thing in itself. And that's what still photography is all about.
Garry WinograndRead
You have a lifetime to learn technique. But I can teach you what is more important than technique, how to see; learn that and all you have to do afterwards is press the shutter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Technique is important, but the ability to perceive and see is even more crucial for creating impactful art.
Garry Winogrand emphasizes that while mastering the technical aspects of photography can take a lifetime, the true essence of art lies in one's ability to see and interpret the world around them. This insight transforms the act of taking a photograph from mere technical execution to a meaningful expression of vision and understanding.
Themes
PhotographyArtTechniqueVisionPerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a photography class, you might use this quote to inspire students about the importance of seeing creatively.
More from Garry Winogrand
All quotes →The photograph should be more interesting or more beautiful than what was photographed
Garry WinograndRead
Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.
Garry WinograndRead
When I’m photographing I see life.
Garry WinograndRead
Photography is not about the thing photographed. It is about how that thing looks photographed.
Garry WinograndRead
I like to think of photographing as a two-way act of respect. Respect for the medium, by letting it do what it does best, describe. And respect for the subject, by describing it as it is. A photograph must be responsible to both.
Garry WinograndRead
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