One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind.
Photographers stop photographing a subject too soon before they have exhausted the possibilities.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great photography requires patience and exploration to fully capture a subject's potential.
Dorothea Lange's quote emphasizes the importance of thoroughness and persistence in photography. It suggests that photographers often rush through capturing a subject, missing out on deeper, more poignant aspects that could transform their work. By encouraging photographers to fully explore the possibilities before concluding their session, Lange advocates for a more thoughtful and expansive approach to creativity, reminding us that the richness of a subject may take time and exploration to reveal.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a photography workshop, to inspire participants to explore every angle.
More from Dorothea Lange
All quotes βBeing disabled gave me an immense advantage. People are kinder to you. It puts you on a different level than if you go into a situation whole and secure.
Surefire things are deadening to the human spirit.
The words that come direct from the people are the greatest.If you substitute one out of your own vocabulary, it disappears before your eyes.
You go into a room and you know where you're welcome; you know where you're unwelcome.Sometimes in a hostile situation you stick around because hostility itself is important.The people who are garrulous and wear their heart on their sleeve and tell you everything, that's one kind of person, but the fellow who's hiding behind a tree and hoping you don't see him is the fellow that you'd better find out why.
I believe in living with the camera, and not using the camera.
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