Week 4 Quotes

“Look at the things around you, the immediate world around you,” he said. “If you are alive, it will mean something to you, and if you care enough about photography, and if you know how to use it, you will want to photograph that meaningness.”
-Paul Strand

First of all let me just say, Paul Strand is one of my favorite photographers. This quote shows how deep of an artist he was. For me this quote reminds me of appreciation (in the first part of the quote). Being that we are human things begin to establish meanings at a young age, as we get older and our critical thinking skills develop that are more meanings and deeper thinking upon that subject. Being a photographer, you try to capture that meaning attached to our life. I think that is essentially what one is doing; trying to capture meaning in photos. If that is done well and can affect even just one person, that makes me happy. Art is powerful and makes people happy, think, and appreciate. GREAT QUOTE!

-Rachel Austin



“Your photography is a record of your living--for anyone who really sees,” Strand said. “You may see and be affected by other people’s ways, you may even use them to find your own, but you will have to eventually free yourself from them.”
-Paul Strand

This quote reminds me of starting in the photo program. In 101 class you had to look at lots of examples of other great photographers work. This was incorporated through a lot of the classes. Once you look at what good photography is, you begin to "see" things. No, I don't mean hallucinate things; I mean see things through a cameras point of view in a composing way. After a while you will eventually free yourself from other people's ideas to explore your own. Then you begin to develop a style that is yours. This is truly a rewarding experience and self achievement.
-Rachel Austin