Cameras Quote by Richard Avedon
“For hours she danced and sang and flirted and did this thing that's-she did Marilyn Monroe. And then there was the inevitable drop. And when the night was over and the white wine was over and the dancing was over, she sat in the corner like a child, with everything gone. I saw her sitting quietly without expression on her face, and I walked towards her but I wouldn't photograph her without her knowledge of it. And as I came with the camera, I saw that she was not saying no.”
About This Quote
Source Photographic series, “Marilyn Monroe” exhibition, 1995
A photographer observes a performer’s vulnerable moment, respecting consent while capturing authenticity.
In simple terms: Capture genuine moments with respect.
Key Takeaway
Respect subjects, capture truth.
Themes
art
ethics
vulnerability
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
artistic
ethical
When to use this quote
- photojournalism
- portraiture
- performance art
- documentary
Key Concepts
consent
observer effect
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure consent in candid photography?
- What ethical lines exist in documenting intimacy?
A Different Perspective
Balancing artistic vision with subject autonomy is challenging.
![“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)
