Like the collector, the photographer is animated by a passion that, even when it appears to be for the present, is linked to a sense of the past.
Susan SontagRead
To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the ethical implications of photography, particularly in how it captures the essence of individuals differently than they perceive themselves.
Susan Sontag's quote emphasizes the complexity of photography as an art form that not only captures reality but also influences our understanding of individuals. By stating that to photograph people is to 'violate' them, she points out the intimate power of the lens, suggesting that photographs can reveal truths about people that they themselves may not recognize, leading to a form of knowledge that can be intrusive and profound.
Themes
PhotographyIdentityPerceptionArtIntrusion
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethical photography practices in a workshop.
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