As in any person's life, there have been difficult moments: I have a son with Down's syndrome; through my photography, I have witnessed all manner of human degradation. But there have also been very happy moments.
Interpretation
Life is a mix of challenges and joyful experiences.
This quote reflects on the duality of life, emphasizing that while one may encounter significant hardships, such as having a child with Down's syndrome and witnessing human suffering, there are also profoundly joyful moments that make life worthwhile. The speaker highlights the importance of recognizing both the difficult and happy experiences as integral parts of the human condition.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, one might say, 'As Sebastiao Salgado reflected, life's challenges coexist with moments of joy.'
I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a second. It's very instinctive. What you do is a fraction of a second, it's there and it's not there. But in this fraction of a second comes your past, comes your future, comes your relation with people, comes your ideology, comes your hate, comes your love - all together in this fraction of a second, it materializes there.
There are moments that you suffer a lot, moments you won't photograph. There are some people you like better than others. But you give, you receive, you cherish, you are there. When you are really there, you know when you see the picture later what you are seeing.
So many times I've photographed stories that show the degradation of the planet. I had one idea to go and photograph the factories that were polluting, and to see all the deposits of garbage. But, in the end, I thought the only way to give us an incentive, to bring hope, is to show the pictures of the pristine planet - to see the innocence.
In the end, the only heritage we have is our planet, and I have decided to go to the most pristine places on the planet and photograph them in the most honest way I know, with my point of view, and of course it is in black and white, because it is the only thing I know how to do.
My way of photographing is my way of life. I photograph from my experience, my way of seeing things.
You photograph with all your ideology.
She spoke of evenings in the country making popcorn on the porch. Once this would have gladdened my heart but because her heart was not glad when she said it I knew there was nothing in it but the idea of what one should do.
Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.
I'm luckier than my grandfather, who didn't move more than five miles from the village in which he was born.
I don't think I'll ever act again. I have so many wonderful memories, but those days are over.
Life is short. From here to that old car you know so well there is a stretch of twenty, twenty-five paces. It is a very short walk. Make those twenty-five steps. Now. Right now. Come just as you are. And we shall live happily ever after.
I am older than everyone I ever knew. All my dogs are dead. Half a dozen cats, parakeets... all gone.
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