---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have problems with a lot of…"
description: "\"I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly street photography and photojournalism - objectifying the other, finding the contempt and exoti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png"
---

#  I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly…

![“I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly street photography and photojournalism - objectifying the other, finding the contempt and exoticism that you might feel within yourself or toward yourself and projecting it out to others. There can be an abusive power to photography, too.” quote by Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png)

> “I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly street photography and photojournalism - objectifying the other, finding the contempt and exoticism that you might feel within yourself or toward yourself and projecting it out to others. There can be an abusive power to photography, too.”

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Photography can objectify subjects, projecting personal contempt or exoticism, and may wield abusive power.

**In simple terms:** Photography can dehumanize and misuse power.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on ethical impact of images.

Themes

ethics power representation art photography

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- street photography
- photojournalism
- exhibitions
- editorial work

Key Concepts

objectification subjectivity visual culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you ensure respect for subjects?
- What safeguards can prevent exploitation?

A Different Perspective

Power dynamics can be mitigated with consent and empathy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Finding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Objectifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectifying/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particularly/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Photography Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-particularly-3750583/) [Photography Photojournalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-photojournalism-3750582/) [Photojournalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photojournalism/) [Photojournalism Objectifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photojournalism-objectifying-3750581/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Projecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projecting/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Street photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-photography/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Toward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toward/) [Within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/)

## Related quotes

> [ I have always felt that a lot of the most interesting work, not just mine but other people's, falls into \[the\] nether area, somewhere… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-webb/i-have-always-felt-that-a-lot-of-the-most-interesting-work-not-just/)

[Alex Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-webb/)

> [Photography today is accomplishing a lofty mission in which every German should collaborate by buying a camera. The German people is ahead of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/photography-today-is-accomplishing-a-lofty-mission-in-which-every/)

[Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/)

> [I mean, making art is about objectifying your experience of the world, transforming the flow of moments into something visual, or textual, or musical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-mean-making-art-is-about-objectifying-your-experience-of-the-world/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [What is photojournalism? Occasionally, a very unique photo, in which form is precise and rich enough and content has enough resonance, is sufficient in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri/what-is-photojournalism-occasionally-a-very-unique-photo-in-which/)

[Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri/)

> [I did photography in summer camp; I did it in high school. The only hard decision I've had to make was whether to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/i-did-photography-in-summer-camp-i-did-it-in-high-school-the-only/)

[Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/)

> [Photojournalism is photography with more story telling. A single image can be amazing and dramatic. I started out shooting individual images, but I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-arthur/photojournalism-is-photography-with-more-story-telling-a-single-image/)

[Olivia Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-arthur/)

> [I respect newspapers, but the reality is that magazine 'photojournalism' is finished. They want illustrations, Photoshopped pictures of movie stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/i-respect-newspapers-but-the-reality-is-that-magazine-photojournalism/)

[Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/)

> [ That \[photographs\] disturb readers is exactly as it should be: that's why photojournalism is often more powerful than written journalism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-photographs-disturb-readers-is-exactly-as-it-should-be-that-s/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [Photojournalism has become a hybrid enterprise of amateurs and professionals, along with surveillance cameras, Google Street Views, and other sources. What is underrepresented are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ritchin/photojournalism-has-become-a-hybrid-enterprise-of-amateurs-and/)

[Fred Ritchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ritchin/)

> [I think photojournalism is documentary photography with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-think-photojournalism-is-documentary-photography-with-a-purpose/)

[W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/)

> [After I discovered my degree in photojournalism would only get me a job in a camera store, I taught myself lighting. I read tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/after-i-discovered-my-degree-in-photojournalism-would-only-get-me-a/)

[Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/)

> [If you look at photojournalism, it's largely driven by current events... always chasing a crisis or disaster. I follow a narrative that is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burtynsky/if-you-look-at-photojournalism-it-s-largely-driven-by-current-events/)

[Edward Burtynsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burtynsky/)

> [One of the leading uses of photography by the mass media came to be called photojournalism. From the late 'twenties' to the early 'fifties'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/one-of-the-leading-uses-of-photography-by-the-mass-media-came-to-be/)

[John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/)

> [If you are walking down the street, camera in your hand, loaded and ready to shoot. You see a person falling from a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/if-you-are-walking-down-the-street-camera-in-your-hand-loaded-and/)

[Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/)

> [I always believed that photography was subjective, interpretive and certainly did not represent the truth, but I did think that its status as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ritchin/i-always-believed-that-photography-was-subjective-interpretive-and/)

[Fred Ritchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ritchin/)

## More by Barbara Kruger

> [I have frequently said, and I will repeat again, in the manner of any well-meaning seriality, that I'm interested in mixing the ingratiation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-frequently-said-and-i-will-repeat-again-in-the-manner-of-any/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I'm trying to deal with ideas about histories, fame, hearsay, and how public identities are constructed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-trying-to-deal-with-ideas-about-histories-fame-hearsay-and-how/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I like suggesting that ‘we are slaves to the objects around us,’ that ‘plenty should be enough,’ or that the ‘buyer should beware,’ within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-like-suggesting-that-we-are-slaves-to-the-objects-around-us-that/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Money talks. It makes art. It determines what food we eat, whether we are cured or die, and what shoes we wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/money-talks-it-makes-art-it-determines-what-food-we-eat-whether-we/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyle/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [It's good to keep in mind that prominence is always a mix of hard work, eloquence in your practice, good timing and fortuitous social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/it-s-good-to-keep-in-mind-that-prominence-is-always-a-mix-of-hard/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Direct address has been a consistent tactic in my work, regardless of the medium that I'm working in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/direct-address-has-been-a-consistent-tactic-in-my-work-regardless-of/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Prominence is cool, but when the delusion kicks in it can be a drag. Especially if you choose to surround yourself with friends and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/prominence-is-cool-but-when-the-delusion-kicks-in-it-can-be-a-drag/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I want people to be drawn into the space of the work. And a lot of people are like me in that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-want-people-to-be-drawn-into-the-space-of-the-work-and-a-lot-of/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [“Your comfort is my silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/your-comfort-is-my-silence/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I believe that who we are, and consequently the work that we make, whether we're visual artists or writers or journalists or filmmakers, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-believe-that-who-we-are-and-consequently-the-work-that-we-make/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Love is something you fall into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/love-is-something-you-fall-into/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Memory is your image of perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/memory-is-your-image-of-perfection/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I mean, making art is about objectifying your experience of the world, transforming the flow of moments into something visual, or textual, or musical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-mean-making-art-is-about-objectifying-your-experience-of-the-world/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [Do you know why language manifests itself the way it does in my work? It's because I understand short attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/do-you-know-why-language-manifests-itself-the-way-it-does-in-my-work/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

[Explore all 91 Barbara Kruger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

## More Abusive quotes

> [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/)

[Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/)

> [What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [One of the things we're all going to have to discover, establishment is just an abusive term for institutions. It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/)

[David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/)

> [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [An abusive relationship? A cheating Ex Partner? Family who constantly disrespect you? Those are just a few examples of bridges that should rightly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-abusive-relationship-a-cheating-ex-partner-family-who-constantly/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-have-a-temper-but-i-wouldn-t-call-me-abusive/)

[Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/)

> [I wouldn't mind being in an abusive relationship with you babes only if you would punch me with her tits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-you-babes-only/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/the-woman-knows-from-living-with-the-abusive-man-that-there-are-no/)

[Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/)

> [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Intolerance has always been one of the cornerstones of Christianity - the glorious heritage of the Inquisition. It's no coincidence that most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/intolerance-has-always-been-one-of-the-cornerstones-of-christianity/)

[Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/)

> [“Dr. Lois Jolyon West was cleared at Top Secret for his work on MKULTRA. West's numerous connections to the mind control network illustrate how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/dr-lois-jolyon-west-was-cleared-at-top-secret-for-his-work-on-mkultra/)

[Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/)

> [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/)

[Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/)

> [With someone who is genuinely abusive or a bad person, you should just get out of town. But if they're being the best person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/with-someone-who-is-genuinely-abusive-or-a-bad-person-you-should-just/)

[Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/)

> [This new world was a vicious, sleek world made of street lights and tight jeans, sharp smiles and fast cars. This was a city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/this-new-world-was-a-vicious-sleek-world-made-of-street-lights-and/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“Just start somewhere," Dr. Marshall had said to me as I ground a banana-pineapple one to bits between my teeth. "It doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/just-start-somewhere-dr-marshall-had-said-to-me-as-i-ground-a-banana/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

[Browse all 311 Abusive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly street photography and photojournalism - objectifying the other, finding the contempt and exoticism that you might feel within yourself or toward yourself and projecting it out to others. There can be an abusive power to photography, too.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barbara Kruger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photography-particularly-street/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abusive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photography-particularly-street/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/barbara-kruger-7415_abusive_i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photograph_2844777.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have problems with a lot of photography, particularly street photography and photojournalism…” — Barbara Kruger",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Barbara Kruger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have problems with a lot...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photography-particularly-street/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-problems-with-a-lot-of-photography-particularly-street/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
