Why do/did they make photographs? In photographers' own words.

[snusmumriken]

This is intended to be a parallel to the thread ‘Why do you make photographs?’. I thought it would be interesting to collect statements from well-known photographers about why they do/did it.

To kick off, here’s one by Peter Turnley that I spotted on Instagram today:
“…I bought a camera and began every night to walk the streets of the inner city of my hometown with my camera. Overnight I found a voice, a way to talk, and sometimes I had the impression I could offer a voice to people whose voice was not often being heard.”

More quotes, please, from other photographers in their own words.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Wilderness, to me, is a spiritual necessity. The mysterious spiritual experience of being close to natural restored my soul [after the death of his son]. My experience reinforced by dedication to use the art of photography as an inspiration for others to work together to save nature's places of spiritual sanctuary for future generations.

Clyde Butcher

 

[MattKing]

Thread title tweaked - to help avoid a duplication of the other thread.
This says it all for me:
Garry Winogrand: “I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed.”

 

[snusmumriken]

Thread title tweaked - to help avoid a duplication of the other thread.
This says it all for me:
Garry Winogrand: “I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed.”

Thanks for the clarification, Matt.

I don't want to derail this thread when it has hardly begun, but do you think Winogrand had his tongue in his cheek when he said that, 'cos it is the exact antithesis of Ansel Adams' visualisation?

 

[MattKing]

I don't want to derail this thread when it has hardly begun, but do you think Winogrand had his tongue in his cheek when he said that, 'cos it is the exact antithesis of Ansel Adams' visualisation?

No, I think that the quotation reliably reflects Winogrand's desire for discovery.

Compare that with:
Diane Arbus: “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.”

 

[snusmumriken]

No, I think that the quotation reliably reflects Winogrand's desire for discovery.

Compare that with:
Diane Arbus: “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.”

Yes, but that's different. She is saying that there is a culturally hidden 'underworld'. Winogrand's statement is more Alice in Wonderland.

I've just discovered this article in Time magazine, which is right on topic.