--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just picked up a camera without any…" description: "\"I just picked up a camera without any kind of ambition to be good or bad. And especially without any ambition to make a living... My whole freedom work..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/lisette-model-30290_ambition_i-just-picked-up-a-camera-without-any-ki_2261357.png" --- # I just picked up a camera without any kind of ambition to… ![“I just picked up a camera without any kind of ambition to be good or bad. And especially without any ambition to make a living... My whole freedom working in photography comes because I say to myself, Let's see what is going on in this world. Let's find out. How do these people look?” quote by Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/lisette-model-30290_ambition_i-just-picked-up-a-camera-without-any-ki_2261357.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/lisette-model-30290_ambition_i-just-picked-up-a-camera-without-any-ki_2261357.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/lisette-model-30290_ambition_i-just-picked-up-a-camera-without-any-ki_2261357.png) > “I just picked up a camera without any kind of ambition to be good or bad. And especially without any ambition to make a living... My whole freedom working in photography comes because I say to myself, Let's see what is going on in this world. Let's find out. How do these people look?” [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The photographer works without commercial or moral goals, driven by curiosity about people and the world. **In simple terms:** Curiosity drives photography, not ambition. Key Takeaway Observe and explore freely. Themes curiosity photography freedom Mood reflective inquisitive Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - street photography - personal projects - social documentation - creative exploration Key Concepts documentary human observation Questions to Reflect On - What would you discover if you photographed without expectations? - How does curiosity shape your creative process? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure can limit authentic observation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The camera has its own kind of consciousness; in the lens the Garden of Eden itself would become ever so slightly too perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-camera-has-its-own-kind-of-consciousness-in-the-lens-the-garden/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [My photography comes from absolute matter-of-fact situations but also from a deep curiosity that I possess for people, for what they do and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vitali/my-photography-comes-from-absolute-matter-of-fact-situations-but-also/) Massimo Vitali > [The enemy of photography is the convention, the fixed rules of 'how to do'. The salvation of photography comes from the experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laszlo-moholy-nagy/the-enemy-of-photography-is-the-convention-the-fixed-rules-of-how-to/) [Laszlo Moholy-Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laszlo-moholy-nagy/) > [Great photography comes about at the right time but it also needs the right cut that enhances that precise moment. Photography must feed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-de-luca/great-photography-comes-about-at-the-right-time-but-it-also-needs-the/) [Augusto De Luca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-de-luca/) > [I've been working with photography for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/i-ve-been-working-with-photography-for-many-years/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [The most prevalent way of working in photography right now is project oriented: you go after an idea. I like the old way, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-klett/the-most-prevalent-way-of-working-in-photography-right-now-is-project/) [Mark Klett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-klett/) > [Working on photography is working on oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-penn/working-on-photography-is-working-on-oneself/) [Irving Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-penn/) > [I assumed from the outset that photography was already art, and that I and other people working in photography were artists. I understand now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-baltz/i-assumed-from-the-outset-that-photography-was-already-art-and-that-i/) [Lewis Baltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-baltz/) > [If I were just curious, it would be very hard to say to someone, I want to come to your house and have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/if-i-were-just-curious-it-would-be-very-hard-to-say-to-someone-i-want/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [The simple act of having a camera, not a cell phone, but a camera-camera, there’s a kind of a heightened perceptional awareness that occurs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-uelsmann/the-simple-act-of-having-a-camera-not-a-cell-phone-but-a-camera/) [Jerry Uelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-uelsmann/) > [I never shot on sets, but if I was traveling somewhere or on location, I would always have my camera, and I'd always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-never-shot-on-sets-but-if-i-was-traveling-somewhere-or-on-location/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [The camera is a kind of license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/the-camera-is-a-kind-of-license/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [It's not about the equipment. Be less concerned about what kind of camera you have and more about what kind of effect you're trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-steele/it-s-not-about-the-equipment-be-less-concerned-about-what-kind-of/) [Taylor Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-steele/) > [The camera kind of finds things that the naked eye can't even see. By moving in a certain way, you're already telling part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-sharrock/the-camera-kind-of-finds-things-that-the-naked-eye-can-t-even-see-by/) [Thea Sharrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-sharrock/) > [Many of my family members are teachers in the arts, and I picked up the camera years ago, in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sebring/many-of-my-family-members-are-teachers-in-the-arts-and-i-picked-up/) [Steven Sebring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sebring/) ## More by Lisette Model > [Never take a picture of anything you are not passionately interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/never-take-a-picture-of-anything-you-are-not-passionately-interested/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [I am a passionate lover of the snapshot, because of all photographic images it comes closest to truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/i-am-a-passionate-lover-of-the-snapshot-because-of-all-photographic/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [Speed, the fundamental condition of the activities of our day is the power of photography, indeed the modern art of today, the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/speed-the-fundamental-condition-of-the-activities-of-our-day-is-the/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [New images surround us everywhere. They are invisible only because of sterile routine convention and fear. To find these images is to dare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/new-images-surround-us-everywhere-they-are-invisible-only-because-of/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [The snapshooter’s pictures have an apparent disorder and imperfection, which is exactly their appeal and their style. The picture isn’t straight. It isn’t done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/the-snapshooter-s-pictures-have-an-apparent-disorder-and-imperfection/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [The snapshot has no pretense or ambition. Innocence is the quintessence of the snapshot. I wish to distinguish between innocence and ignorance. Innocence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/the-snapshot-has-no-pretense-or-ambition-innocence-is-the/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [It is the surface I am interested in. Because the surface is the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/it-is-the-surface-i-am-interested-in-because-the-surface-is-the-inside/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [Photography through the camera is an instrument of detection. We photograph not only what we know, but also what we don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/photography-through-the-camera-is-an-instrument-of-detection-we/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [This photographic thing has changed the entire vision of the world. It will go through every activity of humanity - science, medicine, space, ESP,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/this-photographic-thing-has-changed-the-entire-vision-of-the-world-it/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [I have often been asked what I wanted to prove by my photographs. The answer is, I don’t want to prove anything. They prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/i-have-often-been-asked-what-i-wanted-to-prove-by-my-photographs-the/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [They say my prints are bad, darling they should see my negatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/they-say-my-prints-are-bad-darling-they-should-see-my-negatives/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [Photography is the easiest art, which perhaps makes it the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/photography-is-the-easiest-art-which-perhaps-makes-it-the-hardest/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [Don't shoot til the subject hits you in the pit of your stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/don-t-shoot-til-the-subject-hits-you-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [Photography starts with the projection of the photographer, his understanding of life and himself into the picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/photography-starts-with-the-projection-of-the-photographer-his/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [New images surround us everywhere. They are invisible only because of sterile routine convention and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/new-images-surround-us-everywhere-they-are-invisible-only-because-of-2/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) [Explore all 17 Lisette Model quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just picked up a camera without any kind of ambition to be good or bad. 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