I want to photograph the considerable ceremonies of our present. I want to gather them, like somebody's grandmother putting up preserves, because they will have been so beautiful.
Diane ArbusRead
If I were just curious, it would be very hard to say to someone, I want to come to your house and have you talk to me and tell me the story of your life. I mean people are going to say, You're crazy. Plus they're going to keep mighty guarded. But the camera is a kind of license. A lot of people, they want to be paid that much attention and that's a reasonable kind of attention to be paid.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the unique relationship between photographers and their subjects, highlighting how a camera can provide a medium of connection and attention.
Diane Arbus suggests that engaging with someone’s life story directly may seem intrusive or odd; however, using a camera as a medium creates a legitimate way to connect and share personal narratives. The act of photographing allows for a special kind of attention that many people crave, allowing a photographer to explore the complex nature of human experience through the lens of artistic expression.
Themes
PhotographyAttentionArtHuman ConnectionNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
During a photography workshop, a mentor might refer to this quote to emphasize the importance of connection with subjects.
More from Diane Arbus
All quotes →I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.
Diane ArbusRead
... I must begin at whatever pace is possible, to work on the book of my own that i vaguely keep assuming lies at the end of the rainbow. It is after all my rainbow and if I don't do it no one else will...Survival is the secret so you really can't afford to doubt yourself for long because you are all you've got. The only thing to do is to go the limit with it. Exceed.
Diane ArbusRead
Freaks was a thing I photographed a lot. It was one of the first things I photographed, and it had a terrific kind of excitement for me. I just used to adore them. I still do adore some of them.
Diane ArbusRead
I work from awkwardness. By that I mean I don't like to arrange things. If I stand in front of something, instead of arranging it, I arrange myself.
Diane ArbusRead
It's always seemed to me that photography tends to deal with facts whereas film tends to deal with fiction.
Diane ArbusRead
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