--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photography can never grow up if it…" description: "\"Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other medium. It has to walk alone; it has to be itself.\" — Berenice Abbott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/berenice-abbott-14021_grow_photography-can-never-grow-up-if-it-imit_2103733.png" --- # Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other… ![“Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other medium. It has to walk alone; it has to be itself.” quote by Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/berenice-abbott-14021_grow_photography-can-never-grow-up-if-it-imit_2103733.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/berenice-abbott-14021_grow_photography-can-never-grow-up-if-it-imit_2103733.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/berenice-abbott-14021_grow_photography-can-never-grow-up-if-it-imit_2103733.png) > “Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other medium. It has to walk alone; it has to be itself.” [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography must develop its own language rather than copying other arts, fostering originality. **In simple terms:** Photography needs its own voice. Key Takeaway Cultivate unique visual expression. Themes creativity authenticity artistic identity Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - art school projects - personal portfolios - exhibitions - branding campaigns Key Concepts visual language originality medium specificity Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate your visual style? - What unique perspectives do you bring? A Different Perspective Mimicking other media can dilute impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Grow Imitates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-imitates-4214358/) [Imitates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitates/) [Imitates Medium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitates-medium-4214357/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Photography Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-grow-4214356/) [Walk Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-alone/) ## Related quotes > [Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/art-as-far-as-it-is-able-follows-nature-as-a-pupil-imitates-his/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [There are three arts which are concerned with all things: one which uses, another which makes, and a third which imitates them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-are-three-arts-which-are-concerned-with-all-things-one-which/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The parrot's so funny. He imitates me and I don't even realize he's doing it. I'm walking around the house talking to myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-ralphs/the-parrot-s-so-funny-he-imitates-me-and-i-don-t-even-realize-he-s/) [Mick Ralphs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-ralphs/) > [As a child, I think everybody imitates their favorite cartoon character in some form or another when they're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/as-a-child-i-think-everybody-imitates-their-favorite-cartoon/) [Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/) > [Art imitates life. It's definitely helpful to feel that way. You feel that way when you're leading a show and you're on a set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rose/art-imitates-life-it-s-definitely-helpful-to-feel-that-way-you-feel/) [Emily Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rose/) > [It's very interesting how life imitates art, and art imitates life; I find, whenever I read scenes of some magnitude, I'm like, 'Oh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/it-s-very-interesting-how-life-imitates-art-and-art-imitates-life-i/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [At the beginning of all growth, everything imitates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramoedya-ananta-toer/at-the-beginning-of-all-growth-everything-imitates/) [Pramoedya Ananta Toer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramoedya-ananta-toer/) > [Sometimes art imitates life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/sometimes-art-imitates-life/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [Nature imitates mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/nature-imitates-mathematics/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Art may imitate life, but life imitates TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/art-may-imitate-life-but-life-imitates-tv/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Perhaps the least cheering statement ever made on the subject of art is that life imitates it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/perhaps-the-least-cheering-statement-ever-made-on-the-subject-of-art/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Nature, so far as in her lies, imitates God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/nature-so-far-as-in-her-lies-imitates-god/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“I am for an art that imitates the human, that is comic, if necessary, or violent, or whatever is necessary. I am for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/i-am-for-an-art-that-imitates-the-human-that-is-comic-if-necessary-or/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [I'm an actor, and I keep observing people and their reactions to figure out what they are thinking. There's only so much you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/i-m-an-actor-and-i-keep-observing-people-and-their-reactions-to/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [Nature constantly imitates art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nature-constantly-imitates-art/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Berenice Abbott > [The camera is no more an instrument of preservation, the image is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/the-camera-is-no-more-an-instrument-of-preservation-the-image-is/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [The challenge for me has first been to see things as they are, whether a portrait, a city street, or a bouncing ball. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/the-challenge-for-me-has-first-been-to-see-things-as-they-are-whether/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [To chart a course, one must have a direction. In reality, the eye is no better than the philosophy behind it. The photographer creates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/to-chart-a-course-one-must-have-a-direction-in-reality-the-eye-is-no/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [Self-conscious artiness is fatal, but it certainly would not hurt to study composition in general. Having a basic understanding of composition would help construct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/self-conscious-artiness-is-fatal-but-it-certainly-would-not-hurt-to/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [To chart a course, one must have a direction. In reality, the eye is no better than the philosophy behind it. The photographer creates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/to-chart-a-course-one-must-have-a-direction-in-reality-the-eye-is-no-2/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [None. They should just go out and photograph and stop talking about it. That's the only way they are going to find themselves. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/none-they-should-just-go-out-and-photograph-and-stop-talking-about-it/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [What the human eye observes casually and incuriously, the eye of the camera... notes with relentless fidelity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/what-the-human-eye-observes-casually-and-incuriously-the-eye-of-the/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [There are many teachers who could ruin you. Before you know it you could be a pale copy of this teacher or that teacher.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/there-are-many-teachers-who-could-ruin-you-before-you-know-it-you/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [Abstraction in photography is ridiculous, and is only an imitation of painting. We stopped imitating painters a hundred years ago, so to imitate them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/abstraction-in-photography-is-ridiculous-and-is-only-an-imitation-of/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [I have yet to see a fine photograph which is not a good document.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/i-have-yet-to-see-a-fine-photograph-which-is-not-a-good-document/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [Like every other means of expression, photography, if it is to be utterly honest and direct, should be related to the life of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/like-every-other-means-of-expression-photography-if-it-is-to-be/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [I wanted to combine science and photography in a sensible, unemotional way. Some people’s ideas of scientific photography is just arty design, something pretty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/i-wanted-to-combine-science-and-photography-in-a-sensible-unemotional/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/photography-can-only-represent-the-present-once-photographed-the/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [What the human eye observes casually and incuriously, the eye of the camera (the lens) notes with relentless fidelity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/what-the-human-eye-observes-casually-and-incuriously-the-eye-of-the-2/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [Let us first say what photography is not. A photograph is not a painting, a poem, a symphony, a dance. It is not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/let-us-first-say-what-photography-is-not-a-photograph-is-not-a/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) [Explore all 48 Berenice Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) ## More Grow quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I've never been one to stay in a complacent place where I just let the grass grow around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-lawrence/i-ve-never-been-one-to-stay-in-a-complacent-place-where-i-just-let/) [Tracy Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-lawrence/) > [As I grow through love, so grows my joy, ever more present, ever more constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/as-i-grow-through-love-so-grows-my-joy-ever-more-present-ever-more/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“It is up to you. How far you want to go and how far you want to grow. Do not let that your worries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yilda-rivera/it-is-up-to-you-how-far-you-want-to-go-and-how-far-you-want-to-grow/) [Yilda Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yilda-rivera/) > [I had to grow up quite fast, trying to cook for myself, trying to make laundry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/i-had-to-grow-up-quite-fast-trying-to-cook-for-myself-trying-to-make/) [Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/) > [“Our first teacher is our own heart. When we begin to tune in and listen to our heart we can bring our thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-l-white/our-first-teacher-is-our-own-heart-when-we-begin-to-tune-in-and/) [Victoria L. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-l-white/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [I wish I had more hair on my head. Maybe if I sprinkled fertilizer on it, it would grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-bax/i-wish-i-had-more-hair-on-my-head-maybe-if-i-sprinkled-fertilizer-on/) [Kylie Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-bax/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [The basic idea of retirement income is, to me, to get a check, two checks every month, one from your fixed income and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-basic-idea-of-retirement-income-is-to-me-to-get-a-check-two/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I want to keep trying something new all the time. It is the only way to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/i-want-to-keep-trying-something-new-all-the-time-it-is-the-only-way/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) [Browse all 3,917 Grow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other medium. 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