--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try not to tell students where to…" description: "\"I try not to tell students where to shoot, when to shoot, or what to shoot. I feel finding the picture is the most important part of being a photograph..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/jay-maisel-7730_feels_i-try-not-to-tell-students-where-to-shoo_151644.jpg" --- # I try not to tell students where to shoot, when to shoot… ![“I try not to tell students where to shoot, when to shoot, or what to shoot. I feel finding the picture is the most important part of being a photographer. The actual shooting is of lesser importance.” quote by Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/jay-maisel-7730_feels_i-try-not-to-tell-students-where-to-shoo_151644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/jay-maisel-7730_feels_i-try-not-to-tell-students-where-to-shoo_151644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/jay-maisel-7730_feels_i-try-not-to-tell-students-where-to-shoo_151644.jpg) > “I try not to tell students where to shoot, when to shoot, or what to shoot. I feel finding the picture is the most important part of being a photographer. The actual shooting is of lesser importance.” [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The essence of photography lies in discovering compelling subjects and composition, not in technical execution. **In simple terms:** Finding the subject matters more than the camera work. Key Takeaway Focus on vision before technique. Themes creativity vision photography Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - portrait sessions - street photography - documentary projects - art exhibitions Key Concepts composition subject discovery visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you train your eye to see compelling subjects? - What practices help prioritize composition over gear? A Different Perspective Technical skill cannot replace a strong visual concept. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-photographer-1296670/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographer Actual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer-actual-1686030/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Picture Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture-important-1686031/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Tell Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-students-407859/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [But I did not always know just what it was I wanted to photograph. I believe it is important for a photographer to discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-brandt/but-i-did-not-always-know-just-what-it-was-i-wanted-to-photograph-i/) [Bill Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-brandt/) > [The coming of the motion picture was as important as that of the printing press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-randolph-hearst/the-coming-of-the-motion-picture-was-as-important-as-that-of-the/) [William Randolph Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-randolph-hearst/) > [The viewer who sees only a study in the picture of the glass jug illuminated from behind fails to appreciate the masterly composition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-rodchenko/the-viewer-who-sees-only-a-study-in-the-picture-of-the-glass-jug/) [Alexander Rodchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-rodchenko/) > [The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/the-subject-matter-is-so-much-more-important-than-the-photographer/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [For me, the subject of the picture is always more important than the picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/for-me-the-subject-of-the-picture-is-always-more-important-than-the/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [It's more important for a photographer to have very good shoes, than to have a very good camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/it-s-more-important-for-a-photographer-to-have-very-good-shoes-than/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. 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If you're not out there, you'll only hear about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/if-you-are-out-there-shooting-things-will-happen-for-you-if-you-re/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [Sometimes as you work, you find that you are learning things about your own perceptions and motivations that are way below you consciousness. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/sometimes-as-you-work-you-find-that-you-are-learning-things-about/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [One color alone means nothing. I acts as in a vacuum, with no other colors to relate to. 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