--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photography is a system of visual…" description: "\"Photography is a system of visual editing. At bottom, it is a matter of surrounding with a frame a portion of one's cone of vision, while standing in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/john-szarkowski-20414_bottom_photography-is-a-system-of-visual-editin_2699644.jpg" --- # Photography is a system of visual editing. At bottom, it… ![“Photography is a system of visual editing. At bottom, it is a matter of surrounding with a frame a portion of one's cone of vision, while standing in the right place at the right time. Like chess, or writing, it is a matter of choosing from among given possibilities, but in the case of photography…” quote by John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/john-szarkowski-20414_bottom_photography-is-a-system-of-visual-editin_2699644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/john-szarkowski-20414_bottom_photography-is-a-system-of-visual-editin_2699644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/john-szarkowski-20414_bottom_photography-is-a-system-of-visual-editin_2699644.jpg) > “Photography is a system of visual editing. At bottom, it is a matter of surrounding with a frame a portion of one's cone of vision, while standing in the right place at the right time. Like chess, or writing, it is a matter of choosing from among given possibilities, but in the case of photography the number of possibilities is not finite but infinite.” [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography frames reality, offering infinite creative choices like a game. **In simple terms:** Photography is selective framing. Key Takeaway Choose your perspective wisely. Themes art perception choice Mood inspirational analytical Type artistic educational When to use this quote - photography - creative process - visual arts Key Concepts visual framing infinite possibilities Questions to Reflect On - How does framing shape perception? - What limits exist in visual choices? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One advantage of photography is that it's visual and can transcend language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kristine/one-advantage-of-photography-is-that-it-s-visual-and-can-transcend/) [Lisa Kristine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kristine/) > [For me, photography must be visual, rather than intellectual and ideological.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-decarava/for-me-photography-must-be-visual-rather-than-intellectual-and/) [Roy DeCarava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-decarava/) > [My paintings have an ongoing dialogue with photography. There are many painters who would say the same, I'm sure. The difference is that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nares/my-paintings-have-an-ongoing-dialogue-with-photography-there-are-many/) [James Nares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nares/) > [Photography is choosing where to point your eye-cone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/photography-is-choosing-where-to-point-your-eye-cone/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [ “\[N\]o one ever eats an ice-cream cone at a funeral, or a fire. The Red Cross doesn't drop ice-cream cones into third-world countries. If… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/n-o-one-ever-eats-an-ice-cream-cone-at-a-funeral-or-a-fire-the-red/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [See nature in terms of the cone, the cylinder, and the sphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/see-nature-in-terms-of-the-cone-the-cylinder-and-the-sphere/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [We thread our way through a moving forest of ice-cream cones and crimson thighs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dominique-bauby/we-thread-our-way-through-a-moving-forest-of-ice-cream-cones-and/) [Jean-Dominique Bauby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dominique-bauby/) > [...there was the annual Fourth of July picketing at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. ...I thought it was ridiculous to have to go there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-shelley/there-was-the-annual-fourth-of-july-picketing-at-independence-hall-in/) Martha Shelley > [Pity the planet, all joy gone from this sweet volcanic cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/pity-the-planet-all-joy-gone-from-this-sweet-volcanic-cone/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > [The majority of human beings live their whole lives unaware that they are only seeing a limited cone of vision at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/the-majority-of-human-beings-live-their-whole-lives-unaware-that-they/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [“By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis, Dark behind it rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-the-shores-of-gitche-gumee-by-the-shining-big-sea-water-stood-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-mathewes-green/no-woman-wants-an-abortion-as-she-wants-an-ice-cream-cone-or-a/) [Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-mathewes-green/) > [You want a drumstick? Like a ice cream cone or a chicken wing!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/you-want-a-drumstick-like-a-ice-cream-cone-or-a-chicken-wing/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [Pity the planet, all joy gone from this sweet volcanic cone; peace to our children when they fall in small war on the heel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/pity-the-planet-all-joy-gone-from-this-sweet-volcanic-cone-peace-to/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) ## More by John Szarkowski > [To quote out of context is the essence of the photographer's craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/to-quote-out-of-context-is-the-essence-of-the-photographer-s-craft/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [Because we see reality in different ways, we must understand that we are looking at different truths rather than the truth and that, therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/because-we-see-reality-in-different-ways-we-must-understand-that-we/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [Whatever else a photograph may be about, it is inevitably about photography, the container and vehicle of all its meanings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/whatever-else-a-photograph-may-be-about-it-is-inevitably-about/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [Photography's central sense of purpose and aesthetic: the precise and lucid description of significant fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/photography-s-central-sense-of-purpose-and-aesthetic-the-precise-and/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [The central act of photography, the act of choosing and eliminating, forces a concentration on the picture edge - the line that separates in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/the-central-act-of-photography-the-act-of-choosing-and-eliminating/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [One of the leading uses of photography by the mass media came to be called photojournalism. From the late 'twenties' to the early 'fifties'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/one-of-the-leading-uses-of-photography-by-the-mass-media-came-to-be/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [It isn't what a picture is of, it is what it is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/it-isn-t-what-a-picture-is-of-it-is-what-it-is-about/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [Photography is choosing where to point your eye-cone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/photography-is-choosing-where-to-point-your-eye-cone/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [The photographer’s vision convinces us to the degree that the photographer hides his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/the-photographer-s-vision-convinces-us-to-the-degree-that-the/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [In practice a photographer does not concern himself with philosophical issues while working; he makes photographs, working with subject matter that he thinks will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/in-practice-a-photographer-does-not-concern-himself-with/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [ Trained as a musician, \[photographer Ansel\] Adams understood the richness of variation that could be unfolded from a simple theme. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/trained-as-a-musician-photographer-ansel-adams-understood-the/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [Pure photography is a system of picture-making that describes more or less faithfully what might be seen through a rectangular frame from a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/pure-photography-is-a-system-of-picture-making-that-describes-more-or/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [A photographer's best work is, alas, generally done for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/a-photographer-s-best-work-is-alas-generally-done-for-himself/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [The invention of photography provided a radically new picture-making process - a process based not on synthesis but on selection. The difference was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/the-invention-of-photography-provided-a-radically-new-picture-making/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [“There is a terrible truthfulness about photography. The ordinary academician gets hold of a pretty model, paints her as well as he can, calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/there-is-a-terrible-truthfulness-about-photography-the-ordinary/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) [Explore all 31 John Szarkowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Photography is a system of visual editing. 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