--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think it's necessary to put your…" description: "\"I don't think it's necessary to put your feelings about photography in words. I've read things that photographers have written for exhibitions and so f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/eliot-porter-39285_disturbing_i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-put-your_2109260.png" --- # I don't think it's necessary to put your feelings about… ![“I don't think it's necessary to put your feelings about photography in words. I've read things that photographers have written for exhibitions and so forth about their subjective feelings about photography and mostly I think it's disturbing. I think they're fooling themselves very often. They're…” quote by Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/eliot-porter-39285_disturbing_i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-put-your_2109260.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/eliot-porter-39285_disturbing_i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-put-your_2109260.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/eliot-porter-39285_disturbing_i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-put-your_2109260.png) > “I don't think it's necessary to put your feelings about photography in words. I've read things that photographers have written for exhibitions and so forth about their subjective feelings about photography and mostly I think it's disturbing. I think they're fooling themselves very often. They're just talking, they're not saying anything.” [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against over‑intellectualizing photography; feeling should be experienced, not over‑explained. **In simple terms:** Words can dilute the visual experience. Key Takeaway Focus on seeing, not describing. Themes photography expression authenticity Mood contemplative critical Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - gallery shows - artist statements - art criticism - personal practice Key Concepts aesthetic theory subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape your perception of images? - When is description useful in art? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis may stifle creativity and alienate viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disturbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing/) [Exhibitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibitions/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-photography-4250830/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographers Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographers-written-4250832/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Photography Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-think-626168/) [Photography Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-words-4250831/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) [Subjective Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective-feelings-976152/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [“Good" and "bad" describe the subjective feelings we have toward semothing; the words "true" or "false" deal with reality, regardless of our feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-blech/good-and-bad-describe-the-subjective-feelings-we-have-toward/) [Benjamin Blech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-blech/) > [“We religious folk are very wary of subjective feelings due to our programming by teachers who themselves are often frigid to the Divine approach.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-morrison/we-religious-folk-are-very-wary-of-subjective-feelings-due-to-our/) [Dylan Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-morrison/) > [Press information is serious information, but press information is also manipulated by people who want you to think that this and that happened. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ruff/press-information-is-serious-information-but-press-information-is/) [Thomas Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ruff/) > [It's actually one of the only things that I do that I don't get frustrated over. Everything else I do - racing, golf, video…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/it-s-actually-one-of-the-only-things-that-i-do-that-i-don-t-get/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [Photography really is all about lines, and so is clothing. I worked for Oberto Gili for a couple of years after I was at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-mortimer/photography-really-is-all-about-lines-and-so-is-clothing-i-worked-for/) [Minnie Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-mortimer/) > [The thing with my workshops is, photography is a thoughtful process. In an atmosphere of fast photography, and generally thoughtless, quick, automatic photography, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/the-thing-with-my-workshops-is-photography-is-a-thoughtful-process-in/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Essentially, in photography, I think on two levels: one emotional and the other technical. The emotional impact has to do with looking for something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/essentially-in-photography-i-think-on-two-levels-one-emotional-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [The formula for doing a good job in photography is to think like a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-cunningham/the-formula-for-doing-a-good-job-in-photography-is-to-think-like-a/) [Imogen Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-cunningham/) > [When you first start photographing a show or being into photography, you might think it's cool to see people with their phones, like, 'It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griz/when-you-first-start-photographing-a-show-or-being-into-photography/) [GRiZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griz/) > [He sought a way to preserve the past. John Hershel was one of the founders of a new form of time travel… a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/he-sought-a-way-to-preserve-the-past-john-hershel-was-one-of-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I love photography - I fell in love with photography, I think, because it was my own thing, it wasn't something I needed other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/i-love-photography-i-fell-in-love-with-photography-i-think-because-it/) [Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/) > [I've grown up around people who love photography, and I think from being photographed for so long, I always wanted to understand how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/i-ve-grown-up-around-people-who-love-photography-and-i-think-from/) [Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/) > [My works are dear to me, each in its own way, I shall have to answer for them on the Day off Judgement. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/my-works-are-dear-to-me-each-in-its-own-way-i-shall-have-to-answer/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [More than half the difficulties of the world would be allayed or removed by the exhibition of good temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/more-than-half-the-difficulties-of-the-world-would-be-allayed-or/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [I am happy to exhibit, but not to put myself on exhibition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/i-am-happy-to-exhibit-but-not-to-put-myself-on-exhibition/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) ## More by Eliot Porter > [Sometimes you can tell a large story with a tiny subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/sometimes-you-can-tell-a-large-story-with-a-tiny-subject/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [Much is missed if we have eyes only for the bright colors. Nature should be viewed without distinction... She makes no choice herself; everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/much-is-missed-if-we-have-eyes-only-for-the-bright-colors-nature/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/every-photograph-that-is-made-whether-by-one-who-considers-himself-a/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [I do not photograph for ulterior purposes. I photograph for the thing itself - for the photograph - without consideration of how it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/i-do-not-photograph-for-ulterior-purposes-i-photograph-for-the-thing/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [The more you photograph, the more you realize what can and what can't be photographed. You just have to keep doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/the-more-you-photograph-the-more-you-realize-what-can-and-what-can-t/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [Photography is a strong tool, a propaganda device, and a weapon for the defense of the environment...and therefore for the fostering of a healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/photography-is-a-strong-tool-a-propaganda-device-and-a-weapon-for-the/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [You learn to see by practice. It's Just like playing tennis, you get better the more you play. The more you look around at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/you-learn-to-see-by-practice-it-s-just-like-playing-tennis-you-get/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [But before all else a work of art is the creation of love. Love for the subject first and for the medium second. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/but-before-all-else-a-work-of-art-is-the-creation-of-love-love-for/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [My emotions, instincts, and interests are all with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/my-emotions-instincts-and-interests-are-all-with-nature/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) > [Photographs are believed more than words; thus they can be used persuasively to show people who have never taken the trouble to look what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-porter/photographs-are-believed-more-than-words-thus-they-can-be-used/) [Eliot Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) [Explore all 11 Eliot Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-porter/) ## More Disturbing quotes > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I find in working always the disturbing intrusion of elements not a part of my most interested vision, and the inevitable obliteration and replacement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/i-find-in-working-always-the-disturbing-intrusion-of-elements-not-a/) [Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/) > [There is so much joy in native culture but so much poverty. It's very disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-sainte-marie/there-is-so-much-joy-in-native-culture-but-so-much-poverty-it-s-very/) [Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-sainte-marie/) > [“Silence can often be more disturbing than noise, it reveals the complicated mechanism of our thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-rodrigues-migueis/silence-can-often-be-more-disturbing-than-noise-it-reveals-the/) [Jose Rodrigues Migueis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-rodrigues-migueis/) > [Some guy once sent me a care package with lingerieand a seminude photo of himself. That was disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/some-guy-once-sent-me-a-care-package-with-lingerieand-a-seminude/) [Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/) > [I just remember that disturbing feeling of walking into that prison, the complete loss of privacy, the complete loss of stimulation, dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/i-just-remember-that-disturbing-feeling-of-walking-into-that-prison/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [You can go to a play that is enjoyable because it's funny, and then on the next night you can go to a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/you-can-go-to-a-play-that-is-enjoyable-because-it-s-funny-and-then-on/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/the-theme-of-the-party-was-neverland-ranch-so-guests-were-asked-to/) [April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/) > [I'm aware that because America is so powerful - with its tentacles reaching out to the world - one doesn't escape it by leaving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/i-m-aware-that-because-america-is-so-powerful-with-its-tentacles/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [Deeply disturbing in a way that only the most honest stories are, YACCUB is a fiercely written, daring journey through America's urban wilderness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-massey/deeply-disturbing-in-a-way-that-only-the-most-honest-stories-are/) [Brandon Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-massey/) > [I am fascinated by the idea of employing beautiful images as a device to convey something extremely disturbing in an apparently harmless way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-cattelan/i-am-fascinated-by-the-idea-of-employing-beautiful-images-as-a-device/) [Maurizio Cattelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-cattelan/) > [Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/compassion-automatically-brings-happiness-and-calmness-then-even-if/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [He continues to smile expectantly. I take a step back. I don't want to catch whatever he has. He is a disturbing out-of-uniform Santa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/he-continues-to-smile-expectantly-i-take-a-step-back-i-don-t-want-to/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) [Browse all 535 Disturbing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think it's necessary to put your feelings about photography in words. 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