--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter if you use a box camera…" description: "\"It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing.\" — Eve Arnold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png" --- # It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a… ![“It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing.” quote by Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png) > “It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing.” [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The equipment used matters less than the photographer’s motivation and purpose behind the image. **In simple terms:** Motivation matters more than gear. Key Takeaway Focus on why you shoot. Themes creativity purpose photography technique Mood inspired thoughtful Type artistic practical When to use this quote - photojournalism - portrait work - documentary projects Key Concepts artist intent visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to capture a moment? - How does your purpose shape your style? A Different Perspective Great gear can’t compensate for lack of vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box/) [Box Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box-camera-1870925/) [Boxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxes/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Camera Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-use-1354479/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Leica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leica/) [Leica Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leica-important-1870924/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Motivates Photographing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivates-photographing-1870923/) [Photographing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographing/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn’t matter if you use a box camera or a Leica, the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-a-leica-the-important/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [I don't really have a favorite camera. I use a Leica and Canon a lot. It depends, especially professionally, on the requirements. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-camera-i-use-a-leica-and-canon-a-lot/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [I don't think about what camera I should use that much. I just pick up the one that looks nicest on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eggleston/i-don-t-think-about-what-camera-i-should-use-that-much-i-just-pick-up/) [William Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-eggleston/) > [I once got a little camera to use for details of architecture and so forth but the photo was always so different from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/i-once-got-a-little-camera-to-use-for-details-of-architecture-and-so/) [Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/) > [Making photos is helpful of course to master the craft. To get comfortable with the camera. Learn what a camera can do and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/making-photos-is-helpful-of-course-to-master-the-craft-to-get/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [There's something essentially fictive about a photograph. That doesn't mean that if you understand that, and you understand how the world is transformed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-shore/there-s-something-essentially-fictive-about-a-photograph-that-doesn-t/) [Stephen Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-shore/) > [You have to communicate on a much greater scale. With a camera, you can use the flick of an eye. On stage, a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/you-have-to-communicate-on-a-much-greater-scale-with-a-camera-you-can/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I am not going to be dictated to by the size of the camera. I use everything from an 8 x 10 to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-am-not-going-to-be-dictated-to-by-the-size-of-the-camera-i-use/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [“You are not your camera nor is your photography your camera. Nobody who matters cares what camera you use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bourne/you-are-not-your-camera-nor-is-your-photography-your-camera-nobody/) [Scott Bourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bourne/) > [Being a woman is just a marvelous plus in photographing. Men like to be photographed by women, it becomes flirtatious and fun, and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/being-a-woman-is-just-a-marvelous-plus-in-photographing-men-like-to/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [What I have tried to do is involve the people I was photographing... if they were willing to give, I was willing to photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/what-i-have-tried-to-do-is-involve-the-people-i-was-photographing-if/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [If you can shoot well, all you need is a disposable, toy camera or a camera phone to create great work. If you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-rockwell/if-you-can-shoot-well-all-you-need-is-a-disposable-toy-camera-or-a/) [Ken Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-rockwell/) > [While we're working, we must be conscious of what we're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/while-we-re-working-we-must-be-conscious-of-what-we-re-doing/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [Photography is nothing-it's life that interests me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/photography-is-nothing-it-s-life-that-interests-me/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [I know what I like to use myself. I use Leicas, but when I look at the photograph, I don't ask the photograph questions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-know-what-i-like-to-use-myself-i-use-leicas-but-when-i-look-at-the/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) ## More by Eve Arnold > [If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it's already a lot. The instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-the-photographer-is-interested-in-the-people-in-front-of-his-lens/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [I think if I ever get satisfied, I’ll have to stop. It’s the frustration that drives you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/i-think-if-i-ever-get-satisfied-i-ll-have-to-stop-it-s-the/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [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/) > [I came to photography by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/i-came-to-photography-by-accident/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [I never knew anyone who came close to Marilyn in natural ability to use both photographer and still camera. She was special in this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/i-never-knew-anyone-who-came-close-to-marilyn-in-natural-ability-to/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [You can't make a great musician or a great photographer if the magic isn't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/you-can-t-make-a-great-musician-or-a-great-photographer-if-the-magic/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [Lesson number one: Pay attention to the intrusion of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/lesson-number-one-pay-attention-to-the-intrusion-of-the-camera/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [If a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-a-photographer-cares-about-the-people-before-the-lens-and-is/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [A studio session ... provides the greatest chance for control. Even though there is total freedom, I still dislike studio photography and the contrived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/a-studio-session-provides-the-greatest-chance-for-control-even-though/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [What has changed is that when I photographed, most people that I photographed didn't have the right of refusal on their work. It would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/what-has-changed-is-that-when-i-photographed-most-people-that-i/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [What do you hang on the walls of your mind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/what-do-you-hang-on-the-walls-of-your-mind/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [Being a woman is just a marvelous plus in photographing. Men like to be photographed by women, it becomes flirtatious and fun, and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/being-a-woman-is-just-a-marvelous-plus-in-photographing-men-like-to/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [If the chemistry is right between star and photographer and the geometry of the pictures pleases the star, often the two people end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-the-chemistry-is-right-between-star-and-photographer-and-the/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [It's hard for me to assess what I brought because each time you pick up a camera and point it at a person, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-s-hard-for-me-to-assess-what-i-brought-because-each-time-you-pick/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [If you are careful with people, they will offer you part of themselves. That is the big secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-you-are-careful-with-people-they-will-offer-you-part-of-themselves/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) [Explore all 39 Eve Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) ## More Box quotes > [I don't think that 'Just Mohabbat' or 'Tarzan' were a hindrance. 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I'm always tryin' to give you the best story from our side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-my-chamber-that-s-my-box-i-m-always-tryin-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I love finding out why people don't love things. And if you ask people why they don't like things, particularly when they get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stew/i-love-finding-out-why-people-don-t-love-things-and-if-you-ask-people/) [Stew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stew/) > [The low point for neon came in 1982, when Holiday Inn did away with its signature 'Great Sign,' replacing the neon extravaganza with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-low-point-for-neon-came-in-1982-when-holiday-inn-did-away-with/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. 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We have to face this and overcome this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/the-box-office-in-an-arthouse-film-is-always-going-to-be-small-we/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) [Browse all 658 Box quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eve Arnold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-you-use-a-leica-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Box" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-you-use-a-leica-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/eve-arnold-16752_box_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camer_971943.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when…” — Eve Arnold", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eve Arnold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It doesn't matter if you use...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-you-use-a-leica-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-you-use-a-leica-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```