Buttons Quote by Eliot Porter
“Every photograph that is made whether by one who considers himself a professional, or by the tourist who points his snapshot camera and pushes a button, is a response to the exterior world, to something perceived outside himself by the person who operates the camera.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Photography, 1970
Photographs are personal reactions to what the photographer sees in the world outside.
In simple terms: Photos reflect what the photographer perceives.
Key Takeaway
Capture your perspective, not just the scene.
Themes
perception
art
expression
Mood
contemplative
artistic
Type
observational
reflective
When to use this quote
- travel photography
- portrait work
- documentary projects
Key Concepts
visual storytelling
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your viewpoint shape what you capture?
- What does “outside yourself” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
A photo may still be limited by the camera’s technical constraints.
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