Art Quote by Mary Ellen Mark
![“A good print is really essential. I want to take strong documentary photographs that are as good technically as any of the best technical photographs, and as creative as any of the best fine-art photographs. [...] I don't want to just be a photo essayist; I'm more interested in single…” quote by Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d8d/mary-ellen-mark-8293_art_a-good-print-is-really-essential-i-want_883422.jpg)
“A good print is really essential. I want to take strong documentary photographs that are as good technically as any of the best technical photographs, and as creative as any of the best fine-art photographs. [...] I don't want to just be a photo essayist; I'm more interested in single images...ones that I feel are good enough to stand on their own.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Photographic Vision, 1995
She emphasizes that documentary photography must combine technical excellence with artistic creativity, producing single images that stand alone.
In simple terms: Documentary photos need technical skill and artistic vision.
Key Takeaway
Aim for technically strong, creatively compelling single images.
Themes
photography
documentary
creativity
technical skill
artistic vision
Mood
inspired
determined
reflective
Type
statement
aspirational
educational
When to use this quote
- photojournalism
- gallery exhibition
- personal portfolio
- educational workshop
Key Concepts
visual storytelling
fine art
image composition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you prioritize technical mastery versus creative expression?
- What makes a single image powerful enough to stand alone?
A Different Perspective
Balancing technical perfection with artistic expression can be challenging.
![“If I’d only known which [photographs] would be very good and liked, I wouldn’t have had to do all the thousands of others.” quote by Saul Leiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/12a/saul-leiter-27327_ifs_if-i-d-only-known-which-photographs-woul_566513.jpg)
![“To touch on people's lives [ in a way they ] haven't been touched on before, it´s fascianting. You know, it's one thing if [ a celebrity ] has an incredible character and you're really going to be able to delve into their personality – that's great. But you can never get real purity if people have…” quote by Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/968/mary-ellen-mark-8293_able_to-touch-on-people-s-lives-in-a-way-they_232377.jpg)
