Originally, this began as a selection of photography related quotes, then began to veer off into generally art related quotes, further towards quotes that I personally find relate to the photographic art the way I make it, and from there, also towards this mysterious umbrella of zen, mindfulness and being in the moment.
So whenever I stumble upon something that resonates with me, has a profound truth in it, or is just plain beautiful, I publish it here. Sometimes these quotes come with a thought or explanation why I picked them – other times they just stand on their own. I hope you like the selection. I provide backlinks to Wikipedia or other sources if possible.
“I used to think the top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a spiritual and cultural transformation, and we scientists don’t know how to do that.” (James Gustave Speth)
“Results are uncertain even among the more experienced photographers.” (Mathew Brady, Photographer)
“…the camera’s rendering of reality must always hide more than it discloses” (Susan Sontag)
“There are certain pictures I can never take. We turn on the TV and are smothered with cruelty and suffering and I don’t need to add to it. So I just photograph peaceful things. A vase of flowers, a beautiful girl. Sometimes, through a peaceful face, I can bring something important into the world.” (Edouard Boubat)
“If you should say, ‘It is enough, I have reached perfection,’ all is lost. For it is the function of perfection to make one know one’s imperfection.” (St. Augustine)
“If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.” (Taoist proverb)
What does that have to do with photography?