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Famous Photography Quotes

Great quotes about photography by famous photographers and other cultural figures

There have been some memorable famous photography quotes over the years, which capture sentiments or crystallise advice into neat little packages that are well worth carrying with you!

I often used to come across brilliant quotes on photography - in books, gallery exhibitions or televised interviews - and remember them for a while before eventually forgetting them and losing track of the source.

So I've decided, once and for all, to put together some collections of my absolute favourite quotes about photography, arranged into a few key areas.

Reviews of my favourite coffee table photo books including an awesome collection from Ansel Adams!

Photography has been around for some time now and has acquired a number of major figureheads, many of whose pithy insights into their own work have been included here.

Have you ever wondered what Henri Cartier Bresson thought about the subject of photography in general, or how Ansel Adams set about taking his pictures? Fortunately, there seems to be an abundance of interesting quotes about photography that are as selective in their wording as the great photographers are with the moments they capture.

The impact of photography on the visual character of the modern world is obviously pretty huge. Photos are everywhere and they become embedded in the collective psyche.

From the acquisitive impulse behind holiday snaps to the sensitive observations of portraiture, what do photographs reveal and what do they say about the taker?

It's sometimes a real bore reading critical essays on photography - a few juicy quotations are much better!

So, here they are! Famous photography quotes in 5 categories:

1. Taking pictures...

So first up, what's been said about the process of taking pictures. What makes a good picture? How much to the best photographers mess up...?

These quotes on photography are not just interesting in themselves but provide some fantastic pointers, insights and reflections to draw from in your own work.

The Mind's Eye, by Henri Cartier Bresson

If you like short, sharp, insightful observations on photography, this little book should always be on hand! It's packed full of HCB's fascinating thoughts on taking pictures.

2. Capturing reality...

Most of us don't like the way we look in photos. But the problem is that photographs allege pretty persuasively to capture exactly what was there. Is this true? How far is the aesthetic quality of a photo misleading? Does the camera distort things or reflect the photographer more than the photographed.

Here are some famous photography quotes offering short, sharp insights.

3. Post processing...

Photoshop is for philistines. Agree/Disagree?

Is there an essence of a photograph that gets lost when too much graphical interference occurs? Does Photoshop lift pictures to new heights or is it a distracting accessory - it's what's caught in the camera that counts...?

Here are some quotes on photography post-processing.

4. Artists and writers on photography...

Photography has meandered its way into the arts over the past several decades, gaining ever more museum space and dedicated exhibitions. It continues to be the chief visual expression of modern life.

How do writers and artists in other fields feel about it? What makes photography different? Here are some famous photography quotes from artists and writers.

On Photography, by Susan Sontag

My favourite book on the nature of photography is Susan Sontag's On Photography. It's brilliantly written and stands back to take a look at photography in a broad context.

5. Is photography art...?

Plain spoken quotations from interesting cultural figures and photographers on the big question. When and why is photography art?

Is the creative impulse lost in the mechanical tool of the camera, or can it find genuine expression there? Is photography sufficiently skillful? Can it be art just by virtue of the photographer's vision? Is it worth even asking the question...!?

Here are some brilliant quotes about photography and its artistic character.