Like the collector, the photographer is animated by a passion that, even when it appears to be for the present, is linked to a sense of the past.
Susan SontagRead
The two ideas are antithetical. Insofar as photography is (or should be) about the world, the photographer counts for little, but insofar as it is the instrument of intrepid, questioning subjectivity, the photographer is all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the contrasting roles of the photographer as both a mere recorder of reality and a subjective interpreter of it.
Susan Sontag highlights the dual nature of photography: on one hand, it can simply depict the world objectively, where the photographer's presence is nearly irrelevant. On the other hand, photography can serve as a tool for personal expression, where the individual perspective of the photographer becomes essential and influential, reflecting their unique vision and insights.
Themes
PhotographySubjectivityArtInterpretationWorld
In practice
Example use cases
During a photography exhibition, I might quote Sontag to discuss the role of the photographer.
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It hurts to love. It's like giving yourself to be flayed and knowing that at any moment the other person may just walk off with your skin.
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