--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a photographer, obviously. My chosen…" description: "\"I'm a photographer, obviously. My chosen tool for understanding life, and communicating the results of this search to others, is the camera.\" — David Hurn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/david-hurn-29931_camera_i-m-a-photographer-obviously-my-chosen-t_1778384.png" --- # I'm a photographer, obviously. My chosen tool for… ![“I'm a photographer, obviously. My chosen tool for understanding life, and communicating the results of this search to others, is the camera.” quote by David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/david-hurn-29931_camera_i-m-a-photographer-obviously-my-chosen-t_1778384.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/david-hurn-29931_camera_i-m-a-photographer-obviously-my-chosen-t_1778384.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/david-hurn-29931_camera_i-m-a-photographer-obviously-my-chosen-t_1778384.png) > “I'm a photographer, obviously. My chosen tool for understanding life, and communicating the results of this search to others, is the camera.” [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The camera serves as a tool to explore and share life's meaning through visual storytelling. **In simple terms:** A camera helps understand and share life. Key Takeaway Use photography to explore and communicate your perspective. Themes creativity perception communication Mood reflective inspired Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - personal projects - journalism - social media - exhibitions Key Concepts visual storytelling self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - How does your camera shape your view of reality? - What stories do you choose to tell? A Different Perspective A photo may not capture deeper truth; interpretation varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Communicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-communicating-1321151/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographer Obviously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer-obviously-1840523/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Search Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search-camera-464599/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is responding to you. Life is communicating with you. There are no accidents or coincidences: every single thing has a frequency, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/life-is-responding-to-you-life-is-communicating-with-you-there-are-no/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, for the camera's eye may entirely change my idea, even switch me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/my-own-eyes-are-no-more-than-scouts-on-a-preliminary-search-for-the-2/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, or the camera's eye may entirely change my idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/my-own-eyes-are-no-more-than-scouts-on-a-preliminary-search-or-the/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, for the camera's eye may entirely change my idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/my-own-eyes-are-no-more-than-scouts-on-a-preliminary-search-for-the/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-beginning-of-our-happiness-lies-in-the-understanding-that-life/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [We drink water when we are thirsty and when we do,we dont sip and try understanding how it quenches our thirst but we let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobi-anthony/we-drink-water-when-we-are-thirsty-and-when-we-do-we-dont-sip-and-try/) [Bobi Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobi-anthony/) > [Tibetan Buddhism, has inspired me and accelerated my understanding of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/tibetan-buddhism-has-inspired-me-and-accelerated-my-understanding-of/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [The goal, then, isnt to eradicate what isnt beautiful or pleasurable, or what we see as flawed, but rather to embrace life in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-goal-then-isnt-to-eradicate-what-isnt-beautiful-or-pleasurable-or/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [At the age of 60, I am less experimental and more mature. I want most of all to convey my understanding of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/at-the-age-of-60-i-am-less-experimental-and-more-mature-i-want-most/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [They told me I didn't understand the assignment, I told them they didn't understand life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/they-told-me-i-didn-t-understand-the-assignment-i-told-them-they-didn/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Seek to engage yourself in passionate reading. You will gain better understanding of life .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/seek-to-engage-yourself-in-passionate-reading-you-will-gain-better/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We only know a tiny proportion about the complexity of the natural world. Wherever you look, there are still things we don’t know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/we-only-know-a-tiny-proportion-about-the-complexity-of-the-natural/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“To understand the life better, find a corner and wait there! You will then see that all sorts of things and events will suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-understand-the-life-better-find-a-corner-and-wait-there-you-will/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm an avid reader so I can go on and on about my recommendation for books but the one book that I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-m-an-avid-reader-so-i-can-go-on-and-on-about-my-recommendation-for/) [Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/) > [It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it didfor millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-impossible-to-conceive-how-different-things-would-have-turned/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More by David Hurn > [The fundamental issue is one of emphasis: you are not a photographer because you are interested in photography...The reason is that photography is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/the-fundamental-issue-is-one-of-emphasis-you-are-not-a-photographer/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [In previous ages the word 'art' was used to cover all forms of human skill. The Greeks believed that these skills were given by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/in-previous-ages-the-word-art-was-used-to-cover-all-forms-of-human/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [These are the two basic controls at the photographer's command--positi on and timing--all others are extensions, peripheral ones, compared to them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/these-are-the-two-basic-controls-at-the-photographer-s-command-positi/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [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/) > [Learn from the best; the second raters have nothing to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/learn-from-the-best-the-second-raters-have-nothing-to-offer/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [The most important piece of equipment after the camera is a good pair of shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/the-most-important-piece-of-equipment-after-the-camera-is-a-good-pair/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he or she is potentially. Each photographer, then, should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/it-is-the-purpose-of-life-that-each-of-us-strives-to-become-actually/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [This idea fascinates me. The idea that a few seconds of watching a photographer in action can tell you his/her status in the medium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/this-idea-fascinates-me-the-idea-that-a-few-seconds-of-watching-a/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [You are not a photographer because you are interested in photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/you-are-not-a-photographer-because-you-are-interested-in-photography/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [For me photography is an excuse to be nosy about things I want to know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/for-me-photography-is-an-excuse-to-be-nosy-about-things-i-want-to/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [...one day I was speculating on how I would like to look back on life and I decided I wanted to feel that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/one-day-i-was-speculating-on-how-i-would-like-to-look-back-on-life/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [Life as it unfolds in front of the camera is full of so much complexity, wonder and surprise that I find it unnecessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/life-as-it-unfolds-in-front-of-the-camera-is-full-of-so-much/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [I never claim my photographs reveal some definitive truth. I claim that this is what I saw and felt about the subject at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/i-never-claim-my-photographs-reveal-some-definitive-truth-i-claim/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [I think of myself as a reportage photographer. I like the word. It implies a personal account of an observed event with connotations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/i-think-of-myself-as-a-reportage-photographer-i-like-the-word-it/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [“These are the two basic controls at the photographer's command--position and timing--all others are extensions, peripheral ones, compared to them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/these-are-the-two-basic-controls-at-the-photographer-s-command/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) [Explore all 18 David Hurn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) [Mitra Farahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitra-farahani/) > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a photographer, obviously. 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