When you stop doing something, it doesn't mean you are rejecting the previous work. That's the mistake; it's not rejecting it, it's saying, 'I have exploited it enough now and I wish to take a look at another corner.'
David HockneyRead
Photographs aren't accounts of scrutiny. The shutter is open for a fraction of a second.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Photographs capture fleeting moments rather than complete truths.
David Hockney's quote emphasizes that photography is an art form that captures brief instances in time, rather than providing thorough examinations or comprehensive narratives. The mention of the shutter being open for only a fraction of a second highlights the ephemeral nature of the photographic medium, suggesting that while a photograph may depict reality, it cannot fully encompass the depth and complexity of an experience.
Themes
PhotographyArtMomentPerceptionMomentary
In practice
Example use cases
In a photography workshop, to explain the nature of snapshots, you might say, 'As David Hockney once said, photographs capture fleeting moments, so let's focus on capturing the essence in our shots.'
More from David Hockney
All quotes βI'm interested in all kinds of pictures, however they are made, with cameras, with paint brushes, with computers, with anything.
David HockneyRead
I've always wanted to be able to paint the dawn.
David HockneyRead
My only worry is the painting I'm doing. Nothing else.
David HockneyRead
In fact, most artists want to make things a bit more difficult for themselves as they go along, to challenge themselves.
David HockneyRead
I can get excitement watching rain on a puddle. And then I paint it. Now, I admit, there are not too many people who would find that exciting. But I would. And I want life thrilling and rich. And it is. I make sure it is.
David HockneyRead
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