Garden Quote by David Hockney
“I made a photograph of a garden in Kyoto, the Zen garden, which is a rectangle. But a photograph taken from any one point will not show, well it shows a rectangle, but not with ninety degree angles.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2007, The Art of Photography, David Hockney
A photograph of a rectangular Zen garden appears distorted because perspective alters perceived angles.
In simple terms: Perspective changes how shapes look in photos.
Key Takeaway
Consider viewpoint when framing images.
Themes
perspective
geometry
visual perception
photography
Zen garden
Mood
curious
reflective
instructive
Type
educational
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- architectural photography
- travel documentation
- art education
- exhibition curation
Key Concepts
optical illusion
camera angle
spatial distortion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does perspective affect your visual storytelling?
- Can you use distortion intentionally?
A Different Perspective
Viewers may misinterpret geometry without context.
![“You can't believe any picture nowadays, if it's digital. You can't really believe. If you see me shaking hands with Mr. [Barack] Obama, it doesn't mean I ever met him, does it?” quote by David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/26e/david-hockney-1395_barack_you-can-t-believe-any-picture-nowadays-i_36556.jpg)
