--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to work my camera as if it were a…" description: "\"I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.\" — Mike Figgis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg" --- # I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument. ![“I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.” quote by Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg) > “I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.” [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I treat my camera like a musical instrument, using it creatively. **In simple terms:** Camera as an expressive tool. Key Takeaway Explore visual storytelling. Themes creativity art technology expression Mood artistic inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - filmmaking - photography - performance art Key Concepts visual art musical metaphor innovation Questions to Reflect On - How does this mindset affect your work? - What other tools could be “musical”? A Different Perspective Tools can limit expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Camera Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-musical-5016369/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-instrument/) [Musical instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-instruments/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Work Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-camera-735978/) ## Related quotes > [Nature is an aeolian harp, a musical instrument whose tones are the re-echo of higher strings within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/nature-is-an-aeolian-harp-a-musical-instrument-whose-tones-are-the-re/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [The Harmonica is the world’s best-selling musical instrument. You’re welcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-harmonica-is-the-world-s-best-selling-musical-instrument-you-re/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Setting my mind on a musical instrument was like falling in love. All the world seemed bright and changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-christopher-handy/setting-my-mind-on-a-musical-instrument-was-like-falling-in-love-all/) [William Christopher Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-christopher-handy/) > [The big thing in my family growing up is that everybody had to play a musical instrument. We were like the von Trapps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/the-big-thing-in-my-family-growing-up-is-that-everybody-had-to-play-a/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [If there's any object in human experience that's a precedent for what a computer should be like, it's a musical instrument: a device where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/if-there-s-any-object-in-human-experience-that-s-a-precedent-for-what/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [I regard myself as a beautiful musical instrument, and my role is to contribute that instrument to scripts worthy of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-asner/i-regard-myself-as-a-beautiful-musical-instrument-and-my-role-is-to/) [Ed Asner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-asner/) > [The human voice is the first and most natural musical instrument, also the most emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-schulze/the-human-voice-is-the-first-and-most-natural-musical-instrument-also/) [Klaus Schulze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-schulze/) > [My musical instrument is Hebrew and, to me, this is the most important fact about my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/my-musical-instrument-is-hebrew-and-to-me-this-is-the-most-important/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [The guitar is the most unpredictable and least reliable musical instrument in existence...and also the sweetest, the warmest, the most delicate, whose melancholic voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/the-guitar-is-the-most-unpredictable-and-least-reliable-musical/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) > [You might be a redneck if you think a chain saw is a musical instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-think-a-chain-saw-is-a-musical/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I knew from early on I would go to film school and try to work behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ke-quan/i-knew-from-early-on-i-would-go-to-film-school-and-try-to-work-behind/) [Jonathan Ke Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ke-quan/) > [The greatest musical instrument given to a human being is the voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayananda-saraswati/the-greatest-musical-instrument-given-to-a-human-being-is-the-voice/) [Dayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayananda-saraswati/) > [For me, learning is a continuous process and an all-inclusive one - reading a book, learning a musical instrument or learning the martial art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-nigam/for-me-learning-is-a-continuous-process-and-an-all-inclusive-one/) [Sonu Nigam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-nigam/) > [“The nerve-system of many an Urning is the finest and the most complicated musical instrument in the service of the interior personality that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-de-joux/the-nerve-system-of-many-an-urning-is-the-finest-and-the-most/) [Otto de Joux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-de-joux/) > [I always felt a love for music, but I never got my nerve up enough to try a musical instrument in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-always-felt-a-love-for-music-but-i-never-got-my-nerve-up-enough-to/) [Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/) ## More by Mike Figgis > [I would certainly say that films like Time Code and the Loss of Sexual Innocence were far more rewarding to me in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-would-certainly-say-that-films-like-time-code-and-the-loss-of/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [I started using film as part of live theatre performance - what used to be called performance art - and I became intrigued by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-started-using-film-as-part-of-live-theatre-performance-what-used-to/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [The function of camera movement is to assist the storytelling. That's all it is. It cannot be there just to demonstrate itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/the-function-of-camera-movement-is-to-assist-the-storytelling-that-s/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [It's difficult working with very rich actors, because inevitably they become a little spoilt, and the managers and agents tend to control things more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/it-s-difficult-working-with-very-rich-actors-because-inevitably-they/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [In a way, the history of jazz's development is a small mirror of classical music's development through the centuries. Now jazz is a living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/in-a-way-the-history-of-jazz-s-development-is-a-small-mirror-of/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [There's a sadness to the human condition that I think music is good for. It gives a counterpoint to the visual beauty, and adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/there-s-a-sadness-to-the-human-condition-that-i-think-music-is-good/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [One of the things I love about cinema is the range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-cinema-is-the-range/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [I might have a guitar or a piano on set to play something for the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-might-have-a-guitar-or-a-piano-on-set-to-play-something-for-the/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [I had no plans to be a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-had-no-plans-to-be-a-director/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [I never had any urge or desire to do like a big spectacular movie with thousands and thousands of extras. I'd rather watch paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-never-had-any-urge-or-desire-to-do-like-a-big-spectacular-movie/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [But I don't have such a strong desire to need to get away from filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/but-i-don-t-have-such-a-strong-desire-to-need-to-get-away-from/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [I'm a huge fan of world cinema, because each country uses cinema in a very individual way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-world-cinema-because-each-country-uses-cinema-in-a/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [You can do really slow movements with it, like zooming in for a minute and a half. The audience isn't aware that the camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/you-can-do-really-slow-movements-with-it-like-zooming-in-for-a-minute/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [The world is an infinitely fascinating, tragic and humorous place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/the-world-is-an-infinitely-fascinating-tragic-and-humorous-place/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) > [There's nothing quite like the idea of failing spectacularly to excite a film maker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/there-s-nothing-quite-like-the-idea-of-failing-spectacularly-to/) [Mike Figgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) [Explore all 31 Mike Figgis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) [Mitra Farahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitra-farahani/) > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Figgis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a-musical-instrument/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Camera" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a-musical-instrument/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/mike-figgis-20392_camera_i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a_3041570.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.” — Mike Figgis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mike Figgis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-figgis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like to work my camera...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a-musical-instrument/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-figgis/i-like-to-work-my-camera-as-if-it-were-a-musical-instrument/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```