Hence the detail which interests me is not, or at least is…
““Hence the detail which interests me is not, or at least is not strictly intentional, and probably must not be so; it occurs in the field of the photographed thing like a supplement that is at once inevitable and delightful; it does not necessarily attest to the photographer's art; it says only that the photographer was there, or else, still more simply, that he could not (i)not(i) photograph the partial object at the same time as the total object (how could Kerész have 'separated' the dirt road from the violinist walking on it?). The Photographer's 'second sight' does not consist in 'seeing' but in being there. And above all, imitating Orpheus, he must not turn back to look at what he is leading — what hi is giving to me!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The photographer's role is to be present, capturing moments that are inevitable yet delightful, beyond intentional composition.
In simple terms: Photographer captures presence, not just composition.
Key Takeaway
Focus on being present.
Themes
photography
presence
observation
artistic intent
Mood
contemplative
analytical
Type
theoretical
critical
When to use this quote
- documentary photography
- street photography
- personal memory
Key Concepts
phenomenology
visual culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “being there” mean for your work?
- Can you capture the unintentional?
A Different Perspective
Presence alone may not guarantee artistic merit.