My work is about seeing - seeing things like they haven't been seen before.
Robert MapplethorpeRead
I like to look at pictures, all kinds. And all those things you absorb come out subconsciously one way or another. You'll be taking photographs and suddenly know that you have resources from having looked at a lot of them before. There is no way you can avoid this. But this kind of subconscious influence is good, and it certainly can work for one. In fact, the more pictures you see, the better you are as a photographer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The more you immerse yourself in visual art, the more it influences and enhances your own creativity and skills.
Robert Mapplethorpe's quote emphasizes the importance of exposure to various forms of visual art as a means of enhancing one's own artistic abilities. He suggests that the images we absorb influence our subconscious and ultimately inform our creative work, indicating that a rich experience with diverse artworks can improve our photography by providing us with a wealth of visual resources to draw upon.
Themes
PhotographyArtInfluenceCreativitySubconscious
In practice
Example use cases
During a photography workshop, I shared a favorite quote from Robert Mapplethorpe to inspire participants to explore diverse art.
More from Robert Mapplethorpe
All quotes →With photography, you zero in; you put a lot of energy into short moments, and then you go on to the next thing.
Robert MapplethorpeRead
I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today's existence.
Robert MapplethorpeRead
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