--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To photograph is often compared to an act…" description: "\"To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption - to select from an infinite number of choices that which is to be remembered.\" — John Divola" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg" --- # To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption… ![“To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption - to select from an infinite number of choices that which is to be remembered.” quote by John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg) > “To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption - to select from an infinite number of choices that which is to be remembered.” [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography is an act of redemption, choosing which moment to preserve from endless possibilities. **In simple terms:** Choosing a photo is a redemptive act. Key Takeaway Select meaningful moments to capture. Themes art photography choice memory redemption Mood thoughtful inspired Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - photo shoots - curating portfolios - exhibitions - personal archives Key Concepts aesthetic theory visual storytelling decision making Questions to Reflect On - What criteria guide your selections? - How does this choice shape your narrative? A Different Perspective The act of omission can also be powerful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-remembered-937290/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photograph/) [Photograph Compared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photograph-compared-937291/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redemption/) [Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembered/) [Select](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/select/) ## Related quotes > [The photograph as an object has a relationship to that which it represents something like the relationship the snake skin has to the snake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/the-photograph-as-an-object-has-a-relationship-to-that-which-it/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) > [On February 7, 2.2 million Haitians went to the polls and exercised their constitutional right to select a leader. They went by foot, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foley/on-february-7-2-2-million-haitians-went-to-the-polls-and-exercised/) [Mark Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foley/) > [Punishment as punishment is not admissible unless the offender has had the free will to select his course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/punishment-as-punishment-is-not-admissible-unless-the-offender-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [My concerns through the years increased about the concerns of an independent judiciary and how we maintain it. Certainly in the states. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/my-concerns-through-the-years-increased-about-the-concerns-of-an/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [Below are some quotations along these lines. Select a quote for your Gothic Myspace layout or contribute one of your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ramirez/below-are-some-quotations-along-these-lines-select-a-quote-for-your/) [Laura Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ramirez/) > [If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-devos/if-i-had-to-select-one-quality-one-personal-characteristic-that-i/) [Richard DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-devos/) > [I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-thought-they-would-never-select-an-eastern-writer-for-the-nobel-i/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Men are never very wise and select in the exercise of a new power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/men-are-never-very-wise-and-select-in-the-exercise-of-a-new-power/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [ \[We need to \] select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society and their ability to be financially self- sufficient. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-to-select-immigrants-based-on-their-likelihood-of-success-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Art is not an elitist gift for a few select people. Art is for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attenborough/art-is-not-an-elitist-gift-for-a-few-select-people-art-is-for-everyone/) [Richard Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attenborough/) > [I sometimes think that when the prime minister tries to select a weapon it is the boomerang he finds most effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smith/i-sometimes-think-that-when-the-prime-minister-tries-to-select-a/) [John Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smith/) > [Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings… Select something like music, dance, sculpture, or poetry. Being creative will help you enjoy life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/attempt-to-be-creative-for-the-joy-it-brings-select-something-like/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Vegetables, which are the lowest in the scale of living things, are fed by roots, which, implanted in the native soil, select by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/vegetables-which-are-the-lowest-in-the-scale-of-living-things-are-fed/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) ## More by John Divola > [The photograph as an object has a relationship to that which it represents something like the relationship the snake skin has to the snake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/the-photograph-as-an-object-has-a-relationship-to-that-which-it/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) > [ It's good to be around people who see \[photography\] as a reasonable enterprise when everyone in the neighborhood may think it's ridiculous. (On the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/it-s-good-to-be-around-people-who-see-photography-as-a-reasonable/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) > [I really don't worry too much about what I see through the viewfinder, at least not at that point, especially if I'm using a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/i-really-don-t-worry-too-much-about-what-i-see-through-the-viewfinder/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) > [I don't look for things to see how they function as metaphors… You can't photograph the sublime. You can only traffic in the specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/i-don-t-look-for-things-to-see-how-they-function-as-metaphors-you-can/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) > [In all my work there's this notion of the melancholic. You can make a photograph about the sublime, but you can't make the sublime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/in-all-my-work-there-s-this-notion-of-the-melancholic-you-can-make-a/) [John Divola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) [Explore all 6 John Divola quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption - to select from an infinite number of choices that which is to be remembered.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Divola" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-act-of-redemption-to-select/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-act-of-redemption-to-select/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/john-divola-55176_choice_to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-ac_869488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To photograph is often compared to an act of redemption - to select from an infinite number of choices that…” — John Divola", "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": "John Divola", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-divola/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To photograph is often compared to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-act-of-redemption-to-select/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-divola/to-photograph-is-often-compared-to-an-act-of-redemption-to-select/#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 } } ] } ```