Artist Quote by Richard Avedon
“Camera lies all the time. It’s all it does is lie, because when you choose this moment instead of this moment, when you… the moment you’ve made a choice, you’re lying about something larger. Lying is an ugly word. I don’t mean lying. But any artist picks and chooses what they want to paint or write about or say. Photographers are the same.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: “The Art of Photography” with Richard Avedon, 1995
Choosing a moment to capture is a selective act that frames reality, revealing a personal truth while omitting others.
In simple terms: Photographers choose what to show, shaping perception.
Key Takeaway
Be aware of what you exclude when you focus.
Themes
art
perception
truth
choice
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- documentary projects
- portrait sessions
- journalistic coverage
Key Concepts
subjectivity
representation
narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your selection say about your values?
- How might a different choice change the story?
![“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)
