Being Quote by Richard Avedon
“A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he is being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a part of the photograph as what he's wearing or how he looks.”
About This Quote
The quote observes that a portrait captures both the subject's awareness of being photographed and their reaction, making that awareness integral to the image.
In simple terms: Subject awareness shapes the photograph.
Key Takeaway
A portrait is a dialogue between photographer and aware subject.
Themes
Art
Photography
Perception
Identity
Expression
Mood
Analytical
Observational
Introspective
Type
Artistic insight
Technical observation
When to use this quote
- Art criticism
- Photography workshops
- Creative direction
Key Concepts
Portraiture
Subjectivity
Practical Applications
- Teaching visual storytelling
- Curating exhibitions
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a subject's self-awareness alter a portrait's impact?
- Can a photograph convey truth without subject awareness?
![“It's in trying to direct the traffic between Artiface [sic] and Candor, without being run over, that I'm confronted with the questions about photography that matter most to me.” quote by Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/703/richard-avedon-10149_candor_it-s-in-trying-to-direct-the-traffic-bet_534743.jpg)
