The simplicity of photography lies in the fact that it is very easy to make a picture. The staggering complexity of it lies in the fact that a thousand other pictures of the same subject would have been equally easy.
John SzarkowskiRead
Photography is a contest between a photographer and the presumptions of approximate and habitual seeing. The contest can be held anywhere.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Photography challenges the way we perceive and interpret the world around us.
In this quote, John Szarkowski emphasizes that photography is not just about taking pictures; it's about the photographer's ability to see beyond the ordinary and challenge assumptions. The art of photography lies in capturing moments that might go unnoticed and revealing deeper truths about life and perception.
Themes
PhotographyPerceptionArtSeeingHabitual
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a photography workshop to inspire new photographers.
More from John Szarkowski
All quotes βPhotography is the easiest thing in the world if one is willing to accept pictures that are flaccid, limp, bland, banal, indiscriminately informative, and pointless. But if one insists in a photograph that is both complex and vigorous it is almost impossible
John SzarkowskiRead
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