--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... if [a photograph is] unbelievably…" description: "\"... if [a photograph is] unbelievably real it becomes superreal or another kind of super real, better than real... [it] also can be, I think, so heartf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_compassion_if-a-photograph-is-unbelievably-real-it_929695.jpg" --- # ... if \[a photograph is\] unbelievably real it becomes… ![“... if [a photograph is] unbelievably real it becomes superreal or another kind of super real, better than real... [it] also can be, I think, so heartfelt that you almost can get a pang of compassion for the thing.” quote by Ralph Eugene Meatyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_compassion_if-a-photograph-is-unbelievably-real-it_929695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_compassion_if-a-photograph-is-unbelievably-real-it_929695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ralph-eugene-meatyard-48015_compassion_if-a-photograph-is-unbelievably-real-it_929695.jpg) > “... if \[a photograph is\] unbelievably real it becomes superreal or another kind of super real, better than real... \[it\] also can be, I think, so heartfelt that you almost can get a pang of compassion for the thing.” [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. When a photograph feels more vivid than reality, it can evoke deep empathy and emotional resonance. **In simple terms:** Intense photos can stir compassion. Key Takeaway Seek images that move you emotionally. Themes art photography emotion Mood contemplative evocative Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - gallery visits - personal reflection - creative projects - visual storytelling Key Concepts hyperrealism empathy aesthetic experience Questions to Reflect On - How does realism affect emotional response? - When does hyperrealism become manipulative? A Different Perspective Overly intense images may overwhelm or distract from truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Heartfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartfelt/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Film has lost something in the translation to high tech. It's become so super-real. It's with digital this and stereo that, and everything's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/film-has-lost-something-in-the-translation-to-high-tech-it-s-become/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [Jesus was lonely and sorrowful and scared-an unbelievably real person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/jesus-was-lonely-and-sorrowful-and-scared-an-unbelievably-real-person/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“Erin, you are not nothing. You are the most beautiful person I have ever known." V'Aidan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/erin-you-are-not-nothing-you-are-the-most-beautiful-person-i-have/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [But let me offer a word of caution. If you choose to give from your heart, be careful. The most incredible feeling might just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/but-let-me-offer-a-word-of-caution-if-you-choose-to-give-from-your/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Spoken forgiveness, no matter how heartfelt, works best when we do not demand the response we want. I mean that when we tell people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/spoken-forgiveness-no-matter-how-heartfelt-works-best-when-we-do-not/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [I rise today to offer a formal and heartfelt apology to all the victims of lynching in our history, and for the failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-rise-today-to-offer-a-formal-and-heartfelt-apology-to-all-the/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [The one constant in this ever changing music business is the heartfelt and “ear to the ground” Indie Record Stores that avid music fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-watson/the-one-constant-in-this-ever-changing-music-business-is-the/) [Dale Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-watson/) > [Growing in grace is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/growing-in-grace-is-a-deepening-realization-of-our-nothingness-it-is/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“You could start a fire with the heat between you two." "You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-could-start-a-fire-with-the-heat-between-you-two-you-re-mistaking/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [“But some stories sprout bright vines that tendril off beyond our sight, carrying the folk we love best with them, and if I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynee-m-valente/but-some-stories-sprout-bright-vines-that-tendril-off-beyond-our/) Catherynee M. Valente > [Is enthusiasm important in selling? Yes, genuine, heartfelt enthusiasm is one of the most potent factors of success in almost any undertaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/is-enthusiasm-important-in-selling-yes-genuine-heartfelt-enthusiasm/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Even the jerks earn some of our affection. We can be glad they're gone and yet still mourn the good parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/even-the-jerks-earn-some-of-our-affection-we-can-be-glad-they-re-gone/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Divorce isn't such a tragedy. A tragedy's staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching your children the wrong things about love. Nobody ever died of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/divorce-isn-t-such-a-tragedy-a-tragedy-s-staying-in-an-unhappy/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) Spencer Moody ## 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/) > [I found out that I could not choose a subject, throw it out of focus, and then have a good picture. I found that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-eugene-meatyard/i-found-out-that-i-could-not-choose-a-subject-throw-it-out-of-focus/) [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 Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... if [a photograph is] unbelievably real it becomes superreal or another kind of super real, better than real... 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