--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photography isn't about seeing, it's…" description: "\"Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. If I don't have some kind of feeling for what I'm shooting, how can I expect the person who looks a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/don-mccullin-27351_feelings_photography-isn-t-about-seeing-it-s-abou_1254852.jpg" --- # Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. If I… ![“Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. If I don't have some kind of feeling for what I'm shooting, how can I expect the person who looks at it to feel anything?” quote by Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/don-mccullin-27351_feelings_photography-isn-t-about-seeing-it-s-abou_1254852.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/don-mccullin-27351_feelings_photography-isn-t-about-seeing-it-s-abou_1254852.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/don-mccullin-27351_feelings_photography-isn-t-about-seeing-it-s-abou_1254852.jpg) > “Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. If I don't have some kind of feeling for what I'm shooting, how can I expect the person who looks at it to feel anything?” [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography requires an emotional connection to the subject to convey feeling to viewers. **In simple terms:** Feelings drive photographic impact. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy before shooting. Themes emotion perception artistry Mood introspective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - portrait work - documentary photography - photojournalism - creative projects Key Concepts visual storytelling psychology of perception Questions to Reflect On - What emotion do you want your image to evoke? - How does your mood affect your shooting style? A Different Perspective Technical skill alone cannot evoke emotion without personal feeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“There are too many images, too many cameras now. We’re all being watched. It gets sillier and sillier. As if all action is meaningful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frank/there-are-too-many-images-too-many-cameras-now-we-re-all-being/) [Robert Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frank/) > [I don't want to knock photography, and I don't feel that film is up there but photography isn't. I think they're next to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-don-t-want-to-knock-photography-and-i-don-t-feel-that-film-is-up/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [But sports photography isn't something you just pick up overnight. You can't do it once a year for fun and expect to do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/but-sports-photography-isn-t-something-you-just-pick-up-overnight-you/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [The discussion about whether photography is or isn't art is dated and of no interest. Your work makes you an artist, not your title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/the-discussion-about-whether-photography-is-or-isn-t-art-is-dated-and/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [I'm a great looker at pictures and paintings, and so forth. That's what I look for - a kind of formal beauty. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-m-a-great-looker-at-pictures-and-paintings-and-so-forth-that-s-what/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [There's this idea that photography is a kind of testimony and therefore we're forbidden to tell lies with it. I think that's nonsense. Photography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-horvat/there-s-this-idea-that-photography-is-a-kind-of-testimony-and/) [Frank Horvat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-horvat/) > [Photography isn't for people to take pictures of beautiful people or things. It's for capturing raw emotions in the eyes of the beautiful people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-rowe/photography-isn-t-for-people-to-take-pictures-of-beautiful-people-or/) [Jillian Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-rowe/) > [“He put one foot in front of the other and walked without seeing or feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eowyn-ivey/he-put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-and-walked-without-seeing-or/) [Eowyn Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eowyn-ivey/) > [Ask yourself, 'Why am I seeing and feeling this? How am I growing? What am I learning?' Remember: Every coincidence is potentially meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/ask-yourself-why-am-i-seeing-and-feeling-this-how-am-i-growing-what/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [“Before seeing, before feeling, and before thinking: What is the mind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kusan-sunim/before-seeing-before-feeling-and-before-thinking-what-is-the-mind/) Kusan Sunim > [Seeing, feeling, thinking, believing - these are the stages of how we change our style on the outside and our self-image on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/seeing-feeling-thinking-believing-these-are-the-stages-of-how-we/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Some people fear seeing or feeling anything about which there is no general agreement. For others, it is thrilling to be aware of innuendo,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-metzger/some-people-fear-seeing-or-feeling-anything-about-which-there-is-no/) [Deena Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-metzger/) > [Prayer is more than words. It's listening, seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/prayer-is-more-than-words-it-s-listening-seeing-and-feeling/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I felt like if I was on Facebook, I would probably spend my days looking at people's profiles, seeing what they do, and feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/i-felt-like-if-i-was-on-facebook-i-would-probably-spend-my-days/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) ## More by Don McCullin > [I am sometimes accused by my peers of printing my pictures too dark. All I can say is that it goes with the mood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-am-sometimes-accused-by-my-peers-of-printing-my-pictures-too-dark/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I don't want to die for a few pictures. I want to live for every sunrise I can clap my eyes on; I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-don-t-want-to-die-for-a-few-pictures-i-want-to-live-for-every/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography has been very, very generous to me, but at the same time has damaged me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-has-been-very-very-generous-to-me-but-at-the-same-time/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I feel shabby - because I've made a name, quite a good name, out of photography. And I still find myself asking the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-feel-shabby-because-i-ve-made-a-name-quite-a-good-name-out-of/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I think, the more of a student I am, the better it will be for my work because it means once you have too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-think-the-more-of-a-student-i-am-the-better-it-will-be-for-my-work/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography is the truth if it’s being handled by a truthful person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-is-the-truth-if-it-s-being-handled-by-a-truthful-person/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [The real truth of life is on the streets. Photograph the daily lives of people, and how they exist, and how they fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/the-real-truth-of-life-is-on-the-streets-photograph-the-daily-lives/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-for-me-is-not-looking-it-s-feeling-if-you-can-t-feel-what/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious circumstances. Then I quickly fall on my knees, in my mind if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-am-a-professed-atheist-until-i-find-myself-in-serious-circumstances/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Beauty is a dangerous word. Beauty becomes slightly indulgent for me. 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A lot of photographers today think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-s-a-case-of-keeping-all-the-pores-of-the-skin-open-as/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [You cannot walk on the water of hunger, misery, and death. You have to wade through to record them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/you-cannot-walk-on-the-water-of-hunger-misery-and-death-you-have-to/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I want to be the toughest photographer in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-want-to-be-the-toughest-photographer-in-the-world/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) [Explore all 20 Don McCullin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. 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