--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a painting no one complains that the…" description: "\"In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed, but everybody complains about what looks posed in a photograph. Except, I've found that if I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/john-loengard-33680_chins_in-a-painting-no-one-complains-that-the_1299424.png" --- # In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed… ![“In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed, but everybody complains about what looks posed in a photograph. Except, I've found that if I go very close in to the face, then the posed expression no longer exists. The face becomes a landscape of the lakes of the eyes and the hills of…” quote by John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/john-loengard-33680_chins_in-a-painting-no-one-complains-that-the_1299424.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/john-loengard-33680_chins_in-a-painting-no-one-complains-that-the_1299424.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/john-loengard-33680_chins_in-a-painting-no-one-complains-that-the_1299424.png) > “In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed, but everybody complains about what looks posed in a photograph. Except, I've found that if I go very close in to the face, then the posed expression no longer exists. The face becomes a landscape of the lakes of the eyes and the hills of the nose and the valley of the cleft of the chin.” [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photographs often appear artificial because they capture a moment too closely, revealing details that make the subject seem staged. **In simple terms:** Close-up reveals hidden natural beauty. Key Takeaway Look beyond surface to see depth. Themes photography perception art detail realism Mood contemplative analytical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - portrait photography - art criticism - visual storytelling Key Concepts visual analysis subjectivity human form Questions to Reflect On - How does proximity change our view of authenticity? - What does this say about the nature of representation? A Different Perspective Close-ups can distort perception, making subjects seem unnatural. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [“Ella, let me give you a piece of advice. You feel too much, and everything you feel is right there on that face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyani-nkrumah/ella-let-me-give-you-a-piece-of-advice-you-feel-too-much-and/) Nyani Nkrumah > [Sin may be clasped so close, we cannot see its face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/sin-may-be-clasped-so-close-we-cannot-see-its-face/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [“Being close to him with her face in the space between his ear and his stiff army collar was like being initiated into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/being-close-to-him-with-her-face-in-the-space-between-his-ear-and-his/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“when the picture is too close to your face you lose the sight, when the future is too close to your face you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohlalefi-j-motsima/when-the-picture-is-too-close-to-your-face-you-lose-the-sight-when/) [mohlalefi j motsima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohlalefi-j-motsima/) > [Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit - It's the keeping your chin up that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/just-draw-on-your-grit-it-s-so-easy-to-quit-it-s-the-keeping-your/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [It has been my unbroken policy not to see newspaper writers or give interviews to anyone. At the word interview spoken or written my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-coolidge/it-has-been-my-unbroken-policy-not-to-see-newspaper-writers-or-give/) Grace Coolidge > [I think what all actors share is that, somewhere down in your solar plexus, there's this fear that you're not going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-think-what-all-actors-share-is-that-somewhere-down-in-your-solar/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [He tapped my chest. 'Happy is here.' He tapped his own chest. 'Here.' I looked down past my chin. 'Inside?' 'Inside.' It was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/he-tapped-my-chest-happy-is-here-he-tapped-his-own-chest-here-i/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [When did they start coming after you?” “Was it—was it after the oil- slick Hummer crash?” the Gasman asked Iggy tentatively. My eyes widened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-did-they-start-coming-after-you-was-it-was-it-after-the-oil/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [It really costs me a lot emotionally to watch myself on-screen. I think of myself, and feel like I'm quite young, and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/it-really-costs-me-a-lot-emotionally-to-watch-myself-on-screen-i/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [My chin is weak. I find it hard to make decisions. For years I had been caught between the two stools of security on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/my-chin-is-weak-i-find-it-hard-to-make-decisions-for-years-i-had-been/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [The man without a chin, no stamina, dead man, broken man, whatever. On your way to the top, you always get some criticism. Criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/the-man-without-a-chin-no-stamina-dead-man-broken-man-whatever-on/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [You're crazy. You're impossible.' 'I'm crazy?' He tipped my chin up and planted a quick, rough kiss on my mouth. 'And I must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-re-crazy-you-re-impossible-i-m-crazy-he-tipped-my-chin-up-and/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) ## More by John Loengard > [The fact is that the camera is literal if anything, which gives it something in common with a thermometer... Often the tension that exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/the-fact-is-that-the-camera-is-literal-if-anything-which-gives-it/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [In my head I think, There is a beautiful picture here and by God, short of murder, I'm going to get it. So shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/in-my-head-i-think-there-is-a-beautiful-picture-here-and-by-god-short/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [When I teach a class I often give the assignment: Photograph someone you love. I ask people to do this so they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/when-i-teach-a-class-i-often-give-the-assignment-photograph-someone/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [Working alone on stories, I began to feel the anonymity of motels on interstate highways reached by jet planes and rental cars. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/working-alone-on-stories-i-began-to-feel-the-anonymity-of-motels-on/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [Usually I think if there is something imperfect in a photograph it makes the picture more real. Photographs that are slick, smooth, and imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/usually-i-think-if-there-is-something-imperfect-in-a-photograph-it/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [A Ming vase can be well-designed and well-made and is beautiful for that reason alone. I don't think this can be true for photography.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/a-ming-vase-can-be-well-designed-and-well-made-and-is-beautiful-for/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [Teachers don't work in the summer, and photographers don't shoot in in the middle of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/teachers-don-t-work-in-the-summer-and-photographers-don-t-shoot-in-in/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [If you want something to look interesting, don’t light all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/if-you-want-something-to-look-interesting-don-t-light-all-of-it/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [When I go to photograph somebody, they say, "What do you want me to do?" Those are the most frightening words in the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/when-i-go-to-photograph-somebody-they-say-what-do-you-want-me-to-do/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [Perishability in a photograph is important in a picture. If a photograph looks perishable we say, "Gee, I'm glad I have that moment."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/perishability-in-a-photograph-is-important-in-a-picture-if-a/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [Often the tension that exists between the pictorial content of a photograph and its record of reality is the picture's true beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/often-the-tension-that-exists-between-the-pictorial-content-of-a/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [There are two kinds of photographs: mine and other people's. I never think of what I might do myself when I look at someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/there-are-two-kinds-of-photographs-mine-and-other-people-s-i-never/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) > [I was photographing the photographer Brassaï. He had very prominent eyes, like a frog's. As I focused my lens, he brought his hand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-loengard/i-was-photographing-the-photographer-brassa-he-had-very-prominent/) [John Loengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) [Explore all 14 John Loengard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-loengard/) ## More Chins quotes > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [You're crazy. You're impossible.' 'I'm crazy?' He tipped my chin up and planted a quick, rough kiss on my mouth. 'And I must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-re-crazy-you-re-impossible-i-m-crazy-he-tipped-my-chin-up-and/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The man without a chin, no stamina, dead man, broken man, whatever. On your way to the top, you always get some criticism. Criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/the-man-without-a-chin-no-stamina-dead-man-broken-man-whatever-on/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [My chin is weak. I find it hard to make decisions. For years I had been caught between the two stools of security on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/my-chin-is-weak-i-find-it-hard-to-make-decisions-for-years-i-had-been/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [It really costs me a lot emotionally to watch myself on-screen. I think of myself, and feel like I'm quite young, and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/it-really-costs-me-a-lot-emotionally-to-watch-myself-on-screen-i/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [When did they start coming after you?” “Was it—was it after the oil- slick Hummer crash?” the Gasman asked Iggy tentatively. My eyes widened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-did-they-start-coming-after-you-was-it-was-it-after-the-oil/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [He tapped my chest. 'Happy is here.' He tapped his own chest. 'Here.' I looked down past my chin. 'Inside?' 'Inside.' It was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/he-tapped-my-chest-happy-is-here-he-tapped-his-own-chest-here-i/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I think what all actors share is that, somewhere down in your solar plexus, there's this fear that you're not going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-think-what-all-actors-share-is-that-somewhere-down-in-your-solar/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [It has been my unbroken policy not to see newspaper writers or give interviews to anyone. At the word interview spoken or written my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-coolidge/it-has-been-my-unbroken-policy-not-to-see-newspaper-writers-or-give/) Grace Coolidge > [Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit - It's the keeping your chin up that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/just-draw-on-your-grit-it-s-so-easy-to-quit-it-s-the-keeping-your/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Nice costume," he said. "Ditto. I can tell you put alot of though into yours." Amusement curled his mouth. "If you don't like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/nice-costume-he-said-ditto-i-can-tell-you-put-alot-of-though-into/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I had fun last night," I told Patch, flicking off my chin strap and handing over my helmet. "I'm officially on love with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-had-fun-last-night-i-told-patch-flicking-off-my-chin-strap-and/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The one thing I would like to get across about my whole feeling regarding high school is how I was when I was fifteen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-one-thing-i-would-like-to-get-across-about-my-whole-feeling/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [The only one," he murmured. His chin dipped a little bit. "You know that, Dru? You're the only person who's ever believed in me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/the-only-one-he-murmured-his-chin-dipped-a-little-bit-you-know-that/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) Browse all 296 Chins quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a painting no one complains that the subject is posed, but everybody complains about what looks posed in a photograph. Except, I've found that if I go very close in to the face, then the posed expression no longer exists. 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