--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I see myself as a recorder of history…" description: "\"I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual historian.\" — David Burnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png" --- # I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual… ![“I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual historian.” quote by David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png) > “I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual historian.” [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees himself as a visual historian, documenting events for future reference. **In simple terms:** Recorder of visual history. Key Takeaway Capture moments for posterity. Themes history visual documentation journalism Mood reflective documentary Type journalistic historical When to use this quote - news coverage - archival projects - personal legacy Key Concepts memory preservation storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What stories deserve visual preservation? - How does your lens shape history? A Different Perspective May be limited by perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Sort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-sort-2527402/) [Recorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recorder/) [Recorder History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recorder-history-2527401/) [Recorders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recorders/) [Visual Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-historian-2527400/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) ## Related quotes > [I used to do little sketches into my cassette tape recorder when I was a little boy. I would just turn it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-used-to-do-little-sketches-into-my-cassette-tape-recorder-when-i/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [Imagine if Beethoven had a tape recorder. Then you'd know exactly what he meant. Maybe he meant 'Da da da da' instead of 'Boom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/imagine-if-beethoven-had-a-tape-recorder-then-you-d-know-exactly-what/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [It's such a relief for me to sit in front of a tape recorder and not be using it to learn my lines,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-s-such-a-relief-for-me-to-sit-in-front-of-a-tape-recorder-and-not/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [My first tape piece was made with that Sears Roebuck recorder. I modified sound using cardboard tubes with a microphone in the end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/my-first-tape-piece-was-made-with-that-sears-roebuck-recorder-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [I could learn how to press 'Record' on a tape recorder and write for a newspaper or a magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-could-learn-how-to-press-record-on-a-tape-recorder-and-write-for-a/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [So I use a tape recorder a lot to record ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/so-i-use-a-tape-recorder-a-lot-to-record-ideas/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [It is just like your tape-recorder. It records, it reproduces - all by itself. You only listen. Similarly, I watch all that happens, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/it-is-just-like-your-tape-recorder-it-records-it-reproduces-all-by/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Many of my characters first came through to me as voices. That's why I use a tape recorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/many-of-my-characters-first-came-through-to-me-as-voices-that-s-why-i/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [The beauty of having a studio is I can go in and record any time I want to, so you can always put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-boi/the-beauty-of-having-a-studio-is-i-can-go-in-and-record-any-time-i/) [Big Boi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-boi/) > [Music always hits me when I'm driving so I keep a recorder in my bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-stone/music-always-hits-me-when-i-m-driving-so-i-keep-a-recorder-in-my-bag/) [Angie Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-stone/) > [Life is marvelous now because I have a tape recorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-korbut/life-is-marvelous-now-because-i-have-a-tape-recorder/) [Olga Korbut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-korbut/) > [I'm always making music. I'm constantly making little musical recordings on my phone or on a little voice recorder I carry with me so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/i-m-always-making-music-i-m-constantly-making-little-musical/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [I had wanted a tape recorder since I was tiny. I thought it was a magic thing. I never got one until just before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-had-wanted-a-tape-recorder-since-i-was-tiny-i-thought-it-was-a/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [There are many forms of photography. I consider myself simply a recorder of that which I find of interest around me. I personally have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/there-are-many-forms-of-photography-i-consider-myself-simply-a/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [It is not very natural to make dynamic changes with the recorder. When you play a long note and want to make a diminuendo,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michala-petri/it-is-not-very-natural-to-make-dynamic-changes-with-the-recorder-when/) [Michala Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michala-petri/) ## More by David Burnett > [The satisfaction comes from working next to 500 photographers and coming away with something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/the-satisfaction-comes-from-working-next-to-500-photographers-and/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [Shooting film is not for everybody, but if you're crazy enough it might be for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/shooting-film-is-not-for-everybody-but-if-you-re-crazy-enough-it/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [Do not settle for easy. Do not settle for that first image. Craft it, work it, and make something more out of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/do-not-settle-for-easy-do-not-settle-for-that-first-image-craft-it/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [The fact that I have a little ten-megapixel camera with me all the time, is way better than having the greatest camera in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/the-fact-that-i-have-a-little-ten-megapixel-camera-with-me-all-the/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [I hate being away, but I understand that for me, that's where the work, the stories are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-hate-being-away-but-i-understand-that-for-me-that-s-where-the-work/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [When you've lived through the golden age of photojournalism, there's no point in being nostalgic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/when-you-ve-lived-through-the-golden-age-of-photojournalism-there-s/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [The greatest photographs are motivated by human feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/the-greatest-photographs-are-motivated-by-human-feeling/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [The loss of letters in today's world is one of the great losses we are experiencing, though we shan't know the full extent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/the-loss-of-letters-in-today-s-world-is-one-of-the-great-losses-we/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [War isn't a TV show with plot twists to keep the viewers interested. The proliferation of images and blanket media coverage have suffocated the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/war-isn-t-a-tv-show-with-plot-twists-to-keep-the-viewers-interested/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [It's a given your family will be tired of being photographed, but don't give up. In another couple of decades, those are the pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/it-s-a-given-your-family-will-be-tired-of-being-photographed-but-don/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) > [I love New York, but am happy to be away from it. I really like small towns, with welcoming barbecue restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-love-new-york-but-am-happy-to-be-away-from-it-i-really-like-small/) [David Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) [Explore all 12 David Burnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/) ## More Historian quotes > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [“military historian Richard Holmes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-wright/military-historian-richard-holmes/) [Clare Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-wright/) > [In history as it comes to be written, there is usually some Spirit of the Age which historians can define, but the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/in-history-as-it-comes-to-be-written-there-is-usually-some-spirit-of/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [The novelist must look on humanity without partiality or prejudice. His sympathy, like that of the historian, must be unbounded, and untainted by sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/the-novelist-must-look-on-humanity-without-partiality-or-prejudice/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [The historian amputates reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaetano-salvemini/the-historian-amputates-reality/) [Gaetano Salvemini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaetano-salvemini/) > [The issue of civil rights was too much for the establishment to handle. One of the chapters of history that's least studied by historians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/the-issue-of-civil-rights-was-too-much-for-the-establishment-to/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“The historian will tell you what happened, the novelist will tell you what it felt like.” E.L. Doctorow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-historian-will-tell-you-what-happened-the-novelist-will-tell-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If experiments are performed thousands of times at all seasons and in every place without once producing the effects mentioned by your philosophers, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/if-experiments-are-performed-thousands-of-times-at-all-seasons-and-in/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [I'm a historian by training and by conviction. And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [The footnote would seem to be the smallest detail in a work of history. Yet it carries a large burden of responsibility, testifying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-himmelfarb/the-footnote-would-seem-to-be-the-smallest-detail-in-a-work-of/) [Gertrude Himmelfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-himmelfarb/) > [Who says history is stagnant? For a historian, facts do not change; it is the way we look at things, our interpretations, that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-says-history-is-stagnant-for-a-historian-facts-do-not-change-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since history has no properly scientific value, its only purpose is educative. And if historians neglect to educate the public, if they fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-trevelyan/since-history-has-no-properly-scientific-value-its-only-purpose-is/) [G. M. Trevelyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-trevelyan/) [Browse all 920 Historian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual historian.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Burnett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-sort-of-a-visual-historian/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Historian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-sort-of-a-visual-historian/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/david-burnett-37563_historian_i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-so_2674187.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I see myself as a recorder of history, sort of a visual historian.” — David Burnett", "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": "David Burnett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burnett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I see myself as a recorder...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-sort-of-a-visual-historian/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burnett/i-see-myself-as-a-recorder-of-history-sort-of-a-visual-historian/#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 } } ] } ```