--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of the thousands of people, celebrated…" description: "\"Of the thousands of people, celebrated and unknown, who have sat before my camera, I am often asked who was the most difficult subject, or the easiest,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/philippe-halsman-25175_asking_of-the-thousands-of-people-celebrated-an_1582904.jpg" --- # Of the thousands of people, celebrated and unknown, who… ![“Of the thousands of people, celebrated and unknown, who have sat before my camera, I am often asked who was the most difficult subject, or the easiest, or which picture is my favorite. This last question is like asking a mother which child she likes the most” quote by Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/philippe-halsman-25175_asking_of-the-thousands-of-people-celebrated-an_1582904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/philippe-halsman-25175_asking_of-the-thousands-of-people-celebrated-an_1582904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/philippe-halsman-25175_asking_of-the-thousands-of-people-celebrated-an_1582904.jpg) > “Of the thousands of people, celebrated and unknown, who have sat before my camera, I am often asked who was the most difficult subject, or the easiest, or which picture is my favorite. This last question is like asking a mother which child she likes the most” [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photographers encounter varied subjects; the most rewarding are those that reveal authentic humanity. **In simple terms:** Finding the most rewarding subjects reveals true humanity. Key Takeaway Seek subjects that show genuine humanity. Themes art photography humanity Mood contemplative appreciative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - portrait sessions - documentary projects - family photos - street photography Key Concepts authenticity empathy storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Which subjects reveal deeper truths? - How does subject comfort affect the image? A Different Perspective Some subjects may be inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-difficult-3121124/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Camera Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-asked-429001/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-subject-1294209/) [Easiest Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easiest-picture-635420/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Likes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likes/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [My favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-favorite/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Picture Favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture-favorite-869947/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) ## Related quotes > [I am often asked which picture is my favorite. This is like asking a mother which child she likes the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/i-am-often-asked-which-picture-is-my-favorite-this-is-like-asking-a/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [“Where are they going to get a camera? I asked. I don't know, said Noehmi. They'll probably get sidetracked along the way. Or they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/where-are-they-going-to-get-a-camera-i-asked-i-don-t-know-said-noehmi/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [The Polar Express was the easiest of my picture book manuscripts to write... Once I realized the train was going to the North Pole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/the-polar-express-was-the-easiest-of-my-picture-book-manuscripts-to/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, To know one's self. And what was easy, To advise another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/when-thales-was-asked-what-was-difficult-he-said-to-know-one-s-self/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [In football a man was asked to do a difficult and brutal job, and he either did it or got out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-exley/in-football-a-man-was-asked-to-do-a-difficult-and-brutal-job-and-he/) [Frederick Exley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-exley/) > [“The great sage Thales once put the general matter succinctly "Oh master," he was asked, "what is the most difficult thing to do?" "To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trivers/the-great-sage-thales-once-put-the-general-matter-succinctly-oh/) [Robert Trivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trivers/) > [When I have a difficult subject before me - when I find the road narrow, and can see no other way of teaching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/when-i-have-a-difficult-subject-before-me-when-i-find-the-road-narrow/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“I have also figured out that for many people death is a difficult subject, not at all as simple as it is for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maija-haavisto/i-have-also-figured-out-that-for-many-people-death-is-a-difficult/) [Maija Haavisto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maija-haavisto/) > [I hope they make a show like M\*A\*S\*H, which dealt with a lot of difficult subject matter but was very funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-severance/i-hope-they-make-a-show-like-m-a-s-h-which-dealt-with-a-lot-of/) [Joan Severance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-severance/) > [As an artist, I feel a certain responsibility to write about difficult subject matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/as-an-artist-i-feel-a-certain-responsibility-to-write-about-difficult/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Economics is a very difficult subject. I've compared it to trying to learn how to repair a car when the engine is running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/economics-is-a-very-difficult-subject-i-ve-compared-it-to-trying-to/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [I'm not the authority on the subject. I'm a middle-aged white guy speaking about racism. I'm just finding it a really difficult subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/i-m-not-the-authority-on-the-subject-i-m-a-middle-aged-white-guy/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [“Unfortunately, psychology has not adequately come to grips with the difficult subject of entertainment (or with its opposite, boredom). Despite a few initial efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/unfortunately-psychology-has-not-adequately-come-to-grips-with-the/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [“Attempting to alert the American public to an impending crisis becomes more difficult when the subject itself is complicated and defies easy or brief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/attempting-to-alert-the-american-public-to-an-impending-crisis/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [Class is the most difficult subject for American writers to deal with as it is the most difficult for the English to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/class-is-the-most-difficult-subject-for-american-writers-to-deal-with/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Philippe Halsman > [I am often asked which picture is my favorite. This is like asking a mother which child she likes the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/i-am-often-asked-which-picture-is-my-favorite-this-is-like-asking-a/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [The head of the photographer is more important than his camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/the-head-of-the-photographer-is-more-important-than-his-camera/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [I make the woman look at the camera as a symbol of all the eyes that will see the picture I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/i-make-the-woman-look-at-the-camera-as-a-symbol-of-all-the-eyes-that/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [When the photographer Philippe Halsman said, 'Jump,' no one asked how high. People simply pushed off or leapt up to the extent that physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/when-the-photographer-philippe-halsman-said-jump-no-one-asked-how/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [The immortal photographers will be straightforward photographers, those who do not rely on tricks or special techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/the-immortal-photographers-will-be-straightforward-photographers/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping and the mask falls so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/when-you-ask-a-person-to-jump-his-attention-is-mostly-directed-toward/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [The word “photography” can be interpreted as “writing with light” or “drawing with light.” Some photographers are producing beautiful photographs by drawing with light..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/the-word-photography-can-be-interpreted-as-writing-with-light-or/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [ \[Revealing character\] can't be done by pushing the person into position or arranging his head at a certain angle. It must be accomplished by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/revealing-character-can-t-be-done-by-pushing-the-person-into-position/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [Most people stiffen with self-consciousness when they pose for a photograph. Lighting and fine camera equipment are useless if the photographer cannot make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/most-people-stiffen-with-self-consciousness-when-they-pose-for-a/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [In a jump, the subject, in a sudden burst of energy, overcomes gravity. He cannot simultaneously control his expressions, his facial and his limb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/in-a-jump-the-subject-in-a-sudden-burst-of-energy-overcomes-gravity/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [Marilyn was history's most phenomenal love goddess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/marilyn-was-history-s-most-phenomenal-love-goddess/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [A true portrait should, today and a hundred years from today, the Testimony of how this person looked and what kind of human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/a-true-portrait-should-today-and-a-hundred-years-from-today-the/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [With a woman I try to photograph her beauty; with a man I try to show his character. Once I photographed a man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/with-a-woman-i-try-to-photograph-her-beauty-with-a-man-i-try-to-show/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [In my serious work I am striving for the essence of things and for goals which are possibly unobtainable. On the other hand, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/in-my-serious-work-i-am-striving-for-the-essence-of-things-and-for/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [Dali likes me taking his picture because he is interested in pictures that do not simply reproduce reality. Even in photos he prefers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/dali-likes-me-taking-his-picture-because-he-is-interested-in-pictures/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) [Explore all 23 Philippe Halsman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of the thousands of people, celebrated and unknown, who have sat before my camera, I am often asked who was the most difficult subject, or the easiest, or which picture is my favorite. 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