---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you take a picture you haven't a…"
description: "\"When you take a picture you haven't a clue that it is going to be what it is. Maybe you have a clue but you don't really know. There are too many possi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lee-friedlander-25581_balls_when-you-take-a-picture-you-haven-t-a-cl_909197.jpg"
---

#  When you take a picture you haven't a clue that it is…

![“When you take a picture you haven't a clue that it is going to be what it is. Maybe you have a clue but you don't really know. There are too many possibilities. Part of the game is how many balls you can juggle. It is to me. When you are 12 you can juggle two. Maybe when you are 50 you can juggle…” quote by Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lee-friedlander-25581_balls_when-you-take-a-picture-you-haven-t-a-cl_909197.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lee-friedlander-25581_balls_when-you-take-a-picture-you-haven-t-a-cl_909197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lee-friedlander-25581_balls_when-you-take-a-picture-you-haven-t-a-cl_909197.jpg)

> “When you take a picture you haven't a clue that it is going to be what it is. Maybe you have a clue but you don't really know. There are too many possibilities. Part of the game is how many balls you can juggle. It is to me. When you are 12 you can juggle two. Maybe when you are 50 you can juggle five. That is an interesting concept to me: how much I can put in and still make it pull together?”

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker reflects on how taking a photograph involves unknown outcomes and juggling many possibilities, likening it to a game of balancing elements.

**In simple terms:** Photography is an unpredictable juggling act.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty in creative work.

Themes

creativity uncertainty balance

Mood

contemplative inquisitive

Type

artistic inspirational

When to use this quote

- photo shoots
- project planning
- multitasking

Key Concepts

visual theory process art

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide what to include?
- What limits your juggling capacity?

A Different Perspective

Too many variables can overwhelm the creator.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[12 Juggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/12-juggle-1316803/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Clue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clue/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Juggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggle/) [Juggle 12](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggle-12-1316802/) [Juggle Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggle-interesting-1316804/) [Juggle Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggle-maybe-1316801/) [Juggling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggling/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm a good juggler. If you want to court a woman, you need to be able to juggle five balls, fire, and knives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-scolari/i-m-a-good-juggler-if-you-want-to-court-a-woman-you-need-to-be-able/)

[Peter Scolari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-scolari/)

> [If I see three oranges, I have to juggle. And if I see two towers, I have to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-see-three-oranges-i-have-to-juggle-and-if-i-see-two-towers-i/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [So along with that is spending a lot of time with the ball. For me it was, I loved to juggle the ball in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-chastain/so-along-with-that-is-spending-a-lot-of-time-with-the-ball-for-me-it/)

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> [I can juggle, not well... I can balance a broom on my chin. I can do very simple carny tricks, a little sleight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-can-juggle-not-well-i-can-balance-a-broom-on-my-chin-i-can-do-very/)

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> [I thrive most when I have to juggle things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-thrive-most-when-i-have-to-juggle-things/)

[Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/)

> [ “\[She\] was juggling a lot of crap. And sh it is incredibly difficult to juggle. No matter how hard you try, it still falls… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/she-was-juggling-a-lot-of-crap-and-sh-it-is-incredibly-difficult-to/)

[Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/)

> [A person who learns to juggle six balls will be more skilled than the person who never tries to juggle more than three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/a-person-who-learns-to-juggle-six-balls-will-be-more-skilled-than-the/)

[Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/)

> [If you're not good at juggling, then you're not juggling. I always tell people that. If you're dropping a lot of balls, then maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/if-you-re-not-good-at-juggling-then-you-re-not-juggling-i-always-tell/)

[Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/)

> [Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/technique-is-not-being-able-to-juggle-a-ball-1000-times-anyone-can-do/)

[Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/)

> [I'm unstuck in time. Also, I juggle like mad and have made myself efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-kemp/i-m-unstuck-in-time-also-i-juggle-like-mad-and-have-made-myself/)

[Paul S. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-s-kemp/)

> [ I taught myself to juggle around \[age\] 11,... I've always been pretty coordinated, but I won't do it on stage. I'd get way too nervous. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-hilson/i-taught-myself-to-juggle-around-age-11-i-ve-always-been-pretty/)

[Keri Hilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-hilson/)

> [“Never give a clown too many balls to juggle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-leamon/never-give-a-clown-too-many-balls-to-juggle/)

[Will Leamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-leamon/)

> [ “Of course it's juggling,” the man in motley was saying \[...\] “You know what your problem is, Sir Grenall? You've been seduced by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-morris/of-course-it-s-juggling-the-man-in-motley-was-saying-you-know-what/)

[Gerald Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-morris/)

> [The Gallifreyan balls are my favourite because you can juggle with them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-coleman/the-gallifreyan-balls-are-my-favourite-because-you-can-juggle-with/)

[Jenna Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-coleman/)

> [I can juggle and I love hamsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonita-gandhi/i-can-juggle-and-i-love-hamsters/)

[Jonita Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonita-gandhi/)

## More by Lee Friedlander

> [I only wanted Uncle Vernon standing by his own car (a Hudson) on a clear day, I got him and the car. Ialso got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-only-wanted-uncle-vernon-standing-by-his-own-car-a-hudson-on-a/)

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> [... photographs are so loaded with information. They're remarkable. As I said, you get both the tree and the forest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/photographs-are-so-loaded-with-information-they-re-remarkable-as-i/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [Sometimes just the facts of the matter make it interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/sometimes-just-the-facts-of-the-matter-make-it-interesting/)

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> [I suspect it is for one's self-interest that one looks at one's surroundings and one's self. This search is personally born and is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-suspect-it-is-for-one-s-self-interest-that-one-looks-at-one-s/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [It fascinates me that there is a variety of feeling about what I do. I'm not a premeditative photographer. I see a picture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/it-fascinates-me-that-there-is-a-variety-of-feeling-about-what-i-do-i/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [With a camera like that you don't believe you're in the masterpiece business. It's enough to be able to peck at the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/with-a-camera-like-that-you-don-t-believe-you-re-in-the-masterpiece/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [You don’t have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at YOU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/you-don-t-have-to-go-looking-for-pictures-the-material-is-generous/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [Anything that looks like an idea is probably just something that has accumulated, like dust. It looks like I have ideas because I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/anything-that-looks-like-an-idea-is-probably-just-something-that-has/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [... a mysterious intersection of chance and attention that goes well beyond the existential surrealism of the 'decisive moment'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/a-mysterious-intersection-of-chance-and-attention-that-goes-well/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [Photographs also show the way that the camera sees. It's not just me or you or anybody else. The camera does something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/photographs-also-show-the-way-that-the-camera-sees-it-s-not-just-me/)

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> [The camera is not merely a reflecting pool and the photographs are not exactly the mirror, mirror on the wall that speaks with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/the-camera-is-not-merely-a-reflecting-pool-and-the-photographs-are/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [ \[Garry Winogrand\] was a bull of a man and the world his china shop. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/garry-winogrand-was-a-bull-of-a-man-and-the-world-his-china-shop/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [I always wanted to be a photographer. I was fascinated with the materials, but I never dreamed I would be having this much fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-photographer-i-was-fascinated-with-the/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [If one really knew what one was doing, why do it? It seems to me if you had the answer why ask the question?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/if-one-really-knew-what-one-was-doing-why-do-it-it-seems-to-me-if-you/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

[Explore all 23 Lee Friedlander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

## More Balls quotes

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/)

[Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/)

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> [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/)

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> [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/)

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> [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/)

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[Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/)

> [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/)

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