There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.
Ernst HaasRead
Without touching my subject I want to come to the moment when, through pure concentration of seeing, the composed picture becomes more made than taken. Without a descriptive caption to justify its existence, it will speak for itself - less descriptive, more creative; less informative, more suggestive - less prose, more poetry.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of creativity and perception in art over mere documentation.
Ernst Haas highlights the transformative power of observation and creativity in photography and art. He argues that a truly impactful image transcends mere representation, conveying deeper meanings and emotions without the need for verbal explanation. The distinction between description and suggestion underscores the idea that the essence of art lies in its ability to evoke feelings and thoughts in the viewer through a more poetic approach.
In practice
In a photography exhibition, this quote can illustrate the philosophy behind the displayed works.
Only stilted pedants can conceive the idea that there are absolute norms to tell what is beautiful and what is not. They try to derive from the works of the past a code of rules with which, as they fancy, the writers and artists of the future should comply. But the genius does not cooperate with the pundit.
The camera is for us a tool, not a pretty mechanical toy ... people think far too much about techniques and not enough about seeing.
When I go to the cinema, I'm often frustrated because I can guess exactly what is going to happen about ten minutes into the screening. So, when I'm working on a subject, I'm always looking for the element of surprise.
Everything we know about Hamilton, we knew when he was alive, because he told us.
If you let the plot be determined by what you feel is in the character's mind at that point, it may not turn out to be a very good play, but at least it will be a play where people are behaving in a kind of truthful way.
Through art we express our conception of what nature is not.
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