--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found out that I could not choose a…" description: "\"I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found that I had to learn to see No-focus from th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg" --- # I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it… ![“I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found that I had to learn to see No-focus from the beginning.” quote by Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg) > “I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found that I had to learn to see No-focus from the beginning.” [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing without focusing reveals new perspectives; embrace uncertainty in creative work. **In simple terms:** Learn to see without focusing. Key Takeaway Embrace visual uncertainty. Themes creativity perception uncertainty Mood curious artistic Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - photography - design - problem solving Key Concepts Visual abstraction mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply “no‑focus” in daily decisions? - When does focus become a limitation? A Different Perspective Lack of focus may produce vague results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-beginning-873798/) [Focus Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-good/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Learn Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-focus-239812/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Throw Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throw-focus-3048405/) ## Related quotes > [You have to find what you're really passionate about, throw yourself into it, and focus on those small wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/you-have-to-find-what-you-re-really-passionate-about-throw-yourself/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [“Beginning with End in focus is a beginning of success story”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-mushtaq-gk/beginning-with-end-in-focus-is-a-beginning-of-success-story/) [Mohammed Mushtaq GK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-mushtaq-gk/) > [I already know the Internet is going to try to take little stuff and run with it. I don't really try to get too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moneybagg-yo/i-already-know-the-internet-is-going-to-try-to-take-little-stuff-and/) [Moneybagg Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moneybagg-yo/) > [Our focus was directed at developing the best possible and easiest to use product, and this is where we invested our time. Realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/our-focus-was-directed-at-developing-the-best-possible-and-easiest-to/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [Honestly, a lot of the time, I'm like, 'Oh, my god, I've got so many lines to learn,' that I have to focus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/honestly-a-lot-of-the-time-i-m-like-oh-my-god-i-ve-got-so-many-lines/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Over the course of your career you learn to focus and concentrate on what you have to do and block everything else out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/over-the-course-of-your-career-you-learn-to-focus-and-concentrate-on/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [The earlier you learn that you should focus on what you have, and not obsess about what you don't have, the happier you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/the-earlier-you-learn-that-you-should-focus-on-what-you-have-and-not/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [“You must learn focus and concentration for you to enjoy solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-learn-focus-and-concentration-for-you-to-enjoy-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Learn how to focus - that creates a lot of power. Focus on a candle flame for 15 minutes or a pretty colored rock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/learn-how-to-focus-that-creates-a-lot-of-power-focus-on-a-candle/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can learn to focus on love in your heart rather than the symptoms of your physical condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-l-jampolsky/you-can-learn-to-focus-on-love-in-your-heart-rather-than-the-symptoms/) [Lee L Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-l-jampolsky/) > [Learn to focus on the task at hand, take it one step at a time, life is too expensive a gadget to be operated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learn-to-focus-on-the-task-at-hand-take-it-one-step-at-a-time-life-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always Look at the solution, not the problem. Learn to focus on what will give results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-at-the-solution-not-the-problem-learn-to-focus-on-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm having a tough patch I always try to focus on good things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/when-i-m-having-a-tough-patch-i-always-try-to-focus-on-good-things/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [It's really important to find something you really enjoy - something you can focus on and be good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-rosman/it-s-really-important-to-find-something-you-really-enjoy-something/) [Mackenzie Rosman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-rosman/) > [“Just focus on how good life is right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-harris/just-focus-on-how-good-life-is-right-now/) [Ali Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-harris/) ## More by Ralph Eugene Meatyard > [I think I have been able to eliminate the idea of a third person: the Intruding Photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-think-i-have-been-able-to-eliminate-the-idea-of-a-third-person-the/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [I work in several different groups of pictures which act on and with each other - ranging from several abstracted manners to a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-work-in-several-different-groups-of-pictures-which-act-on-and-with/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [ ... if \[a photograph is\] unbelievably real it becomes superreal or another kind of super real, better than real... \[it\] also can be, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/if-a-photograph-is-unbelievably-real-it-becomes-superreal-or-another/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [Am I looking at a mask or am I the mask being looked at?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/am-i-looking-at-a-mask-or-am-i-the-mask-being-looked-at/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [I like the obvious statement, although some people might wish to think they aren't there, that they will go away with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-like-the-obvious-statement-although-some-people-might-wish-to-think/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [I have always tried to keep truth in my photographs. My work, whether realistic or abstract, has always dealt with a form of religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-have-always-tried-to-keep-truth-in-my-photographs-my-work-whether/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) > [I want to get people to read stone, tree, so forth & so on through the construction of the picture, to lead them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-want-to-get-people-to-read-stone-tree-so-forth-so-on-through-the/) [Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) [Explore all 8 Ralph Eugene Meatyard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found that I had to learn to see No-focus from the beginning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Eugene Meatyard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-subject-throw-it-out-of-focus/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Focus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-subject-throw-it-out-of-focus/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_focus_i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-su_667053.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found…” — Ralph Eugene Meatyard", "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": "Ralph Eugene Meatyard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-eugene-meatyard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I found out that I could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-subject-throw-it-out-of-focus/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-subject-throw-it-out-of-focus/#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 } } ] } ```