--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, there's a certain power to a…" description: "\"Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. The camera has a way of disorienting a person, if it wants to and, for me, when it disorients, it's got r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/edward-ruscha-14231_camera_yes-there-s-a-certain-power-to-a-photogr_278804.jpg" --- # Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. The camera… ![“Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. The camera has a way of disorienting a person, if it wants to and, for me, when it disorients, it's got real value.” quote by Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/edward-ruscha-14231_camera_yes-there-s-a-certain-power-to-a-photogr_278804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/edward-ruscha-14231_camera_yes-there-s-a-certain-power-to-a-photogr_278804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/edward-ruscha-14231_camera_yes-there-s-a-certain-power-to-a-photogr_278804.jpg) > “Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. The camera has a way of disorienting a person, if it wants to and, for me, when it disorients, it's got real value.” [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photographs can disrupt perception, revealing deeper truths and value. **In simple terms:** Photos can change how we see things. Key Takeaway Use images to challenge assumptions. Themes perception art truth Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - advertising - journalism - gallery c - social media Key Concepts visual culture media influence interpretation Questions to Reflect On - When does a photo mislead rather than enlighten? - How can we balance visual impact with factual accuracy? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on images can distort reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Real value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-value/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing that gets in the way of a really good photograph, is the camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-parkinson/the-only-thing-that-gets-in-the-way-of-a-really-good-photograph-is/) [Norman Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-parkinson/) > [ I feel like if I started to use it \[camera\] that way, it would be like a sin almost. I never show people ugly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-feel-like-if-i-started-to-use-it-camera-that-way-it-would-be-like-a/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [You can always tell in a movie when they are setting you up for something. If someone leaves an important object on the table…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-viola/you-can-always-tell-in-a-movie-when-they-are-setting-you-up-for/) [Bill Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-viola/) > [You can really shoot things you think might work on camera one way, then you can try it that way, and then if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/you-can-really-shoot-things-you-think-might-work-on-camera-one-way/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [It's a hard job to get the camera to see it like you see it. Sometimes you have it just the way you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-zee/it-s-a-hard-job-to-get-the-camera-to-see-it-like-you-see-it-sometimes/) [James Van Der Zee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-zee/) > [The camera is your way to see what you want to see - it's an extension of the director's fantasy. I'm executing my personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/the-camera-is-your-way-to-see-what-you-want-to-see-it-s-an-extension/) [Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/) > [It's kind of dangerous to cut in the camera, but that's the only way I know how to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-allen/it-s-kind-of-dangerous-to-cut-in-the-camera-but-that-s-the-only-way-i/) [Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/) > [When the world looks upside down Just flip the camera the other way around :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-faith/when-the-world-looks-upside-down-just-flip-the-camera-the-other-way/) Rachel Faith > [I think that there isn't a photograph in the world that has any narrative ability... They do not tell stories - they show you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-think-that-there-isn-t-a-photograph-in-the-world-that-has-any/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [War is the easiest photography in the business. Just get close, be lucky, know how your camera works. There are subjects everywhere. Everyplace you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/war-is-the-easiest-photography-in-the-business-just-get-close-be/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [The instrument is not the camera but the photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/the-instrument-is-not-the-camera-but-the-photographer/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [“Judging by the photograph it seemed like I hadn’t been there at all. As if it was my camera that had been on holiday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-l-k-s/judging-by-the-photograph-it-seemed-like-i-hadn-t-been-there-at-all/) [Ida Løkås](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-l-k-s/) > [I almost never set out to photograph a landscape, nor do I think of my camera as a means of recording a mountain or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-rowell/i-almost-never-set-out-to-photograph-a-landscape-nor-do-i-think-of-my/) [Galen Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-rowell/) > [The camera can photograph thought. It's better than a paragraph of sweet polemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-bogarde/the-camera-can-photograph-thought-it-s-better-than-a-paragraph-of/) [Dirk Bogarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-bogarde/) > [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/) ## More by Edward Ruscha > [I don't do social media of any kind. If I did, I may as well join Scientology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-don-t-do-social-media-of-any-kind-if-i-did-i-may-as-well-join/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [When I paint a picture of a house, that goes back to my roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/when-i-paint-a-picture-of-a-house-that-goes-back-to-my-roots/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [Perhaps there would be more anxiety in my work if I lived in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/perhaps-there-would-be-more-anxiety-in-my-work-if-i-lived-in-new-york/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I wasn't captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I'd rather be in L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-wasn-t-captivated-by-the-romance-of-paris-or-london-i-love-visiting/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I think the most interesting stuff comes from people who've just got nothing to lose. You know, let's kamikaze this thing - just throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-think-the-most-interesting-stuff-comes-from-people-who-ve-just-got/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [ The subject \[of Los Angeles\] became a general metaphor for anxiety and the speed of modern life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/the-subject-of-los-angeles-became-a-general-metaphor-for-anxiety-and/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [As an artist, I gotta stand up to my own work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/as-an-artist-i-gotta-stand-up-to-my-own-work/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I'm very stodgy. I'm always looking at old photos of California and Los Angeles, knowing that what I'm looking at is now full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-m-very-stodgy-i-m-always-looking-at-old-photos-of-california-and/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [There was no hope for any kind of big opportunity. I'm not saying it was hopeless. The big pay-off was to work as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/there-was-no-hope-for-any-kind-of-big-opportunity-i-m-not-saying-it/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I believe in intuition and approaching things as instant gratification. Just do the things you want to do, make the kind of pictures you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-believe-in-intuition-and-approaching-things-as-instant/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [My friends and neighbors were always fixing their cars. Soldiers who felt restless wanted to work on something, and they understood cars. Me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/my-friends-and-neighbors-were-always-fixing-their-cars-soldiers-who/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I have no social agenda with my work. I'm deadpan about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-have-no-social-agenda-with-my-work-i-m-deadpan-about-it/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [ I just use \[the camera\]. I just pick it up like an axe when I've got to chop down a tree. I pick up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-just-use-the-camera-i-just-pick-it-up-like-an-axe-when-i-ve-got-to/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I knew I wanted to be some kind of artist from about 12. I met a neighbour who drew cartoons, and I had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-some-kind-of-artist-from-about-12-i-met-a/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I'm interested in glorifying something that we in the world would say doesn't deserve being glorified. Something that's forgotten, focused on as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-m-interested-in-glorifying-something-that-we-in-the-world-would-say/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) [Explore all 47 Edward Ruscha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) ## 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 > [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": "Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. 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