QuoteProject
Sometimes photographers mistake emotion for what makes a great street photograph.
Garry Winogrand
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Great street photography goes beyond capturing mere emotions; it involves deeper elements of composition and context.

Garry Winogrand's quote suggests that many photographers may prioritize the emotional aspect of a moment when taking a street photograph, overlooking the fundamental principles of good composition, context, and storytelling that contribute to a truly great image. Street photography is an art form that requires a balance between emotion and technical skill to create impactful visuals.

Themes

PhotographyEmotionCompositionStreetArt

In practice

Example use cases

In a photography workshop, you might say, 'Remember Garry Winogrand's perspective on photography when capturing street life.'

More from Garry Winogrand

The photo is a thing in itself. And that's what still photography is all about.
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The photograph should be more interesting or more beautiful than what was photographed
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Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.
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When I’m photographing I see life.
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Photography is not about the thing photographed. It is about how that thing looks photographed.
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I like to think of photographing as a two-way act of respect. Respect for the medium, by letting it do what it does best, describe. And respect for the subject, by describing it as it is. A photograph must be responsible to both.
Garry WinograndRead

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