--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I see things going on before my eyes and…" description: "\"I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. I don't warn people beforehand. That's why I'm a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/martin-parr-4726_chronicler_i-see-things-going-on-before-my-eyes-and_1656844.png" --- # I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them… ![“I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. I don't warn people beforehand. That's why I'm a chronicler. I speak about us and I speak about myself.” quote by Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/martin-parr-4726_chronicler_i-see-things-going-on-before-my-eyes-and_1656844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/martin-parr-4726_chronicler_i-see-things-going-on-before-my-eyes-and_1656844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/martin-parr-4726_chronicler_i-see-things-going-on-before-my-eyes-and_1656844.png) > “I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. I don't warn people beforehand. That's why I'm a chronicler. I speak about us and I speak about myself.” [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He documents reality directly, avoiding manipulation, and uses his work to reflect on society and self. **In simple terms:** He photographs truthfully and reflects on humanity. Key Takeaway Capture reality, reflect on self. Themes photography observation self‑reflection Mood thoughtful introspective Type observational reflective When to use this quote - exhibitions - photo essays - journalistic work - personal projects Key Concepts documentary authenticity social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does unaltered photography influence perception? - What responsibilities do chroniclers have? A Different Perspective May miss deeper context by staying purely observational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chronicler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronicler/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Trying to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-change/) ## Related quotes > [My pictures are my eyes. I photograph what I see - and what I want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/my-pictures-are-my-eyes-i-photograph-what-i-see-and-what-i-want-to-see/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe it, Chronicler found himself thinking. Before it was just a story, but now I can believe it. This is the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-believe-it-chronicler-found-himself-thinking-before-it-was-just-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A journalist is basically a chronicler, not an interpreter of events. Where else in society do you have the license to eavesdrop on so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-journalist-is-basically-a-chronicler-not-an-interpreter-of-events/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“There was once a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler’s mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-once-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [There was a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-not-over-if-you-re-still-here-chronicler-said-it-s-not-a-tragedy-2/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“The magic reel, which, rolling on before has led the chronicler thus far, now slackens its pace, and stops. It lies before the goal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magic-reel-which-rolling-on-before-has-led-the-chronicler-thus/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [happiness, unlike grief, does not clamor for a chronicler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-meagher/happiness-unlike-grief-does-not-clamor-for-a-chronicler/) [Maude Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-meagher/) > [ “I am lost without my Boswell. \[Sherlock Holmes on Dr. Watson.\] ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-am-lost-without-my-boswell-sherlock-holmes-on-dr-watson/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Chronicler snapped. "You're just spouting nonsense now." "I'm spouting too much sense for you to understand,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/what-the-hell-is-that-supposed-to-mean-chronicler-snapped-you-re-just/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [What does it take to be a great social chronicler? Perhaps one of the key attributes is an understanding of what it feels like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-great-social-chronicler-perhaps-one-of-the/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [“how thin the line is between the truth and a compelling lie. Between history and an entertaining story.” Chronicler gave his words a minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/how-thin-the-line-is-between-the-truth-and-a-compelling-lie-between/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [So I do not consider myself a chronicler of my fatherland or even a chronicler of Havana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/so-i-do-not-consider-myself-a-chronicler-of-my-fatherland-or-even-a/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) ## More by Martin Parr > [Taking photos is a form of collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/taking-photos-is-a-form-of-collecting/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Most of the photographs people take with their cameraphones are of little value in terms of documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/most-of-the-photographs-people-take-with-their-cameraphones-are-of/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's going on?' I found there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-were-doing-and-asked-myself/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [When I am in London, all I do is mix with other people in the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/when-i-am-in-london-all-i-do-is-mix-with-other-people-in-the-arts/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Fashion pictures show people looking glamorous. Travel pictures show a place looking at its best, nothing to do with the reality. In the cookery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/fashion-pictures-show-people-looking-glamorous-travel-pictures-show-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Tourism is the biggest industry in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/tourism-is-the-biggest-industry-in-the-world/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-the-70s-in-britain-if-you-were-going-to-do-serious-photography-you/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Nobody thinks about technical issues anymore because cameras or camera phones take care of that automatically. On the other hand, you still have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/nobody-thinks-about-technical-issues-anymore-because-cameras-or/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [As we travel around Britain, I am convinced most of us cannot really appreciate what we are seeing. We take too much for granted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/as-we-travel-around-britain-i-am-convinced-most-of-us-cannot-really/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I toyed with the notion of being an actor, and am so glad that this whim did not go any further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-toyed-with-the-notion-of-being-an-actor-and-am-so-glad-that-this/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Photos tend to organize chaos, to define what we're doing here. It is essential that individuals' voices depict the world around us, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/photos-tend-to-organize-chaos-to-define-what-we-re-doing-here-it-is/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [We live in a difficult but inspiring world, and there is so much out there that I want to record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/we-live-in-a-difficult-but-inspiring-world-and-there-is-so-much-out/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [My father was an obsessive bird-watcher. The genes of observation passed down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/my-father-was-an-obsessive-bird-watcher-the-genes-of-observation/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Photographers never want to talk about the fact that they may well be in decline. It's the greatest taboo subject of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/photographers-never-want-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-they-may-well-be/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I am a big fan of Jim Jarmusch, and I do love big screen documentaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-am-a-big-fan-of-jim-jarmusch-and-i-do-love-big-screen-documentaries/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) [Explore all 107 Martin Parr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) ## More Chronicler quotes > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“how thin the line is between the truth and a compelling lie. Between history and an entertaining story.” Chronicler gave his words a minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/how-thin-the-line-is-between-the-truth-and-a-compelling-lie-between/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [What does it take to be a great social chronicler? Perhaps one of the key attributes is an understanding of what it feels like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-great-social-chronicler-perhaps-one-of-the/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [“What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Chronicler snapped. "You're just spouting nonsense now." "I'm spouting too much sense for you to understand,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/what-the-hell-is-that-supposed-to-mean-chronicler-snapped-you-re-just/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [ “I am lost without my Boswell. \[Sherlock Holmes on Dr. Watson.\] ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-am-lost-without-my-boswell-sherlock-holmes-on-dr-watson/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [happiness, unlike grief, does not clamor for a chronicler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-meagher/happiness-unlike-grief-does-not-clamor-for-a-chronicler/) [Maude Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-meagher/) > [“The magic reel, which, rolling on before has led the chronicler thus far, now slackens its pace, and stops. It lies before the goal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magic-reel-which-rolling-on-before-has-led-the-chronicler-thus/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-not-over-if-you-re-still-here-chronicler-said-it-s-not-a-tragedy-2/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [There was a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“There was once a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler’s mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-once-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [A journalist is basically a chronicler, not an interpreter of events. Where else in society do you have the license to eavesdrop on so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-journalist-is-basically-a-chronicler-not-an-interpreter-of-events/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I believe it, Chronicler found himself thinking. Before it was just a story, but now I can believe it. This is the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-believe-it-chronicler-found-himself-thinking-before-it-was-just-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [So I do not consider myself a chronicler of my fatherland or even a chronicler of Havana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/so-i-do-not-consider-myself-a-chronicler-of-my-fatherland-or-even-a/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) > [“When history repeats itself, historians repeat themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/when-history-repeats-itself-historians-repeat-themselves/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) [Browse all 22 Chronicler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronicler/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. 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