Why do photographers photograph? To make unreality visible.

Bill Jay

Categorized in : Photographer Photography Unreality

Evolution in action: First, God said, 'Let there be light.' Then, he created two nude models. Now we have photographers.

light photography two

My point is that meaning is always personal, changeable and subjective. There is no 'correct' interpretation of a photograph.

interpretation photograph photography

But there are times when thinking is misplaced, like when taking photographs. You cannot think your way to making photographs; you can photograph your way to clearer thinking.

photography way thinking

Photographers have already photographed everything too many times, except cheese.

cheese photography photographer

...photographers who carry 60 pounds of equipment up a hill to photograph a view are not suffering enough, although their whining causes enough suffering among their listeners. No, if they really expect us to respect their search for enlightenment and artistic expression, in [the] future they will drag the equipment up the hill by their genitals and take the view with a tripod leg stuck through their foot.

photography views feet

Predators and prey always coexist. That's why we have galleries as well as photographers.

predator photography photographer

Asked for your opinion on the prints, you have two choices: truth or tact. I ask for the bathroom.

photography choices two

Think clearly, act sensibly, commit yourself to caring and work hard in order to discover joy. Then give the images back to the world from which they were taken.

hard-work photography taken

Be gentle and tolerant. Intimacy will grow, but will take time and cannot be rushed. If all goes well, soon you will become more familiar with each other, and handling will forge awkward fumbling and fondling into more satisfying and productive caresses and eventually into a comfortable working partnership. At this stage you will be ready to accompany your new camera into the world.

awkward cameras photography

I start a lot of photo projects but never seem to. . . .

projects photography seems

I was offered $100,000 for a print. Then I woke up.

print photography

Ask photographers to write and they have nothing to say; ask them to talk about their work and they won't shut up.

photography photographer writing

'I am a camera' but it is a discontinued model.

models cameras photography

If you are bored with your own photography you are really bored with what you are photographing, so pick a new subject about which you are knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

knowledgeable bored photography

A few photographers make a killing; the rest can't make a living.

killing photography photographer

A photograph is a picture and no more true or false than any other depiction; why is that so hard to comprehend?

depiction true-or-false photography

Advice to artists: always take the opportunity to shut up.

photography artist opportunity

A photograph is a mirror; mostly it reflects the prejudices of the viewer.

prejudice mirrors photography

Only in art can you make something that no one wants and still be considered successful.

photography successful art

I agree, intellectualism in photography is overrated. I just wish it could be replaced by common sense.

common-sense photography wish