--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My photographs don't go below the…" description: "\"My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/richard-avedon-10149_below-the-surface_my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surfac_1678727.jpg" --- # My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go… ![“My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues.” quote by Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/richard-avedon-10149_below-the-surface_my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surfac_1678727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/richard-avedon-10149_below-the-surface_my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surfac_1678727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/richard-avedon-10149_below-the-surface_my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surfac_1678727.jpg) > “My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues.” [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values surface details as rich sources of meaning, trusting them to reveal deeper truths. **In simple terms:** Surface details hold clues to deeper understanding. Key Takeaway Observe and interpret surface cues. Themes art perception detail Mood contemplative analytical Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - gallery visits - street photography - visual analysis Key Concepts visual language interpretation photography Questions to Reflect On - What does a surface tell you about its subject? - How can you look beyond the obvious? A Different Perspective Focusing only on surface may miss hidden layers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Below the surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/below-the-surface/) [Great faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-faith/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographs/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Standards of beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-of-beauty/) [Surfaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surfaces/) ## Related quotes > [My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surface-they-don-t-go-below/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I did finals on all the surfaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/i-did-finals-on-all-the-surfaces/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [Strike rates depend on the surfaces you play on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/strike-rates-depend-on-the-surfaces-you-play-on/) [Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/) > [Do not be bewildered by the surfaces: in the depths all becomes law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/do-not-be-bewildered-by-the-surfaces-in-the-depths-all-becomes-law/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“What lies behind the innocent looks? What lies behind the kind words? What lies behind the gentle smiles? Do not remain on the surface…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-lies-behind-the-innocent-looks-what-lies-behind-the-kind-words/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-live-amid-surfaces-and-the-true-art-of-life-is-to-skate-well-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The real world is in a much darker and deeper place than this, and most of it is occupied by jellyfish and things. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-real-world-is-in-a-much-darker-and-deeper-place-than-this-and/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Of people, of places, surfaces don't interest me. Depths do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadia-hakim/of-people-of-places-surfaces-don-t-interest-me-depths-do/) [Sadia Hakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadia-hakim/) > [“You must let it glide on surfaces so you don't make a mess of things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/you-must-let-it-glide-on-surfaces-so-you-don-t-make-a-mess-of-things/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [In particular, I am interested in understanding hyperbolic surfaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryam-mirzakhani/in-particular-i-am-interested-in-understanding-hyperbolic-surfaces/) [Maryam Mirzakhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryam-mirzakhani/) > [“We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-live-i-regret-to-say-in-an-age-of-surfaces/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I am pleased enough with the surfaces - in fact they alone seem to me to be of much importance. Such things for example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-am-pleased-enough-with-the-surfaces-in-fact-they-alone-seem-to-me/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Do not allow yourself to be misled by the surfaces of things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/do-not-allow-yourself-to-be-misled-by-the-surfaces-of-things/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Give me truths for I am weary of the surfaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/give-me-truths-for-i-am-weary-of-the-surfaces/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's good to have different surfaces, I think that's good for the sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-medvedev/it-s-good-to-have-different-surfaces-i-think-that-s-good-for-the-sport/) [Daniil Medvedev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-medvedev/) ## More 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-photographic-portrait-is-a-picture-of-someone-who-knows-he-is-being/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Snapshots that have been taken of me working show something I was not aware of at all, that over and over again I'm holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/snapshots-that-have-been-taken-of-me-working-show-something-i-was-not/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/sometimes-i-think-all-my-pictures-are-just-pictures-of-me/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [There's always been a separation between fashion and what I call my deeper work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/there-s-always-been-a-separation-between-fashion-and-what-i-call-my/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I can see myself as a very old man in a terrific wheelchair. Only, I won't be photographing the tree outside my window, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-can-see-myself-as-a-very-old-man-in-a-terrific-wheelchair-only-i/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I am, and forever will be, devastated by the gift of Audrey Hepburn before my camera. I cannot lift her to greater heights. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-am-and-forever-will-be-devastated-by-the-gift-of-audrey-hepburn/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I've photographed just about everyone in the world. But what I hope to do is photograph people of accomplishment, not celebrity, and help define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-ve-photographed-just-about-everyone-in-the-world-but-what-i-hope-to/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [If each photograph steals a bit of the soul, isn't it possible that I give up pieces of mine every time I take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/if-each-photograph-steals-a-bit-of-the-soul-isn-t-it-possible-that-i/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Marilyn Monroe gave more to the still camera than any actress, any woman I've ever photographed; infinitely more patient, more demanding of herself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/marilyn-monroe-gave-more-to-the-still-camera-than-any-actress-any/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/it-s-in-trying-to-direct-the-traffic-between-artiface-sic-and-candor/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [A portrait is not a likeness. The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-portrait-is-not-a-likeness-the-moment-an-emotion-or-fact-is/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/the-moment-an-emotion-or-fact-is-transformed-into-a-photograph-it-is/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [When I was a boy, my family took great care with our snapshots. We really planned them. We made compositions. We posed in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/when-i-was-a-boy-my-family-took-great-care-with-our-snapshots-we/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I don't really remember the day when I stood behind my camera with Henry Kissinger on the other side. I am sure he doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-don-t-really-remember-the-day-when-i-stood-behind-my-camera-with/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [And if a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/and-if-a-day-goes-by-without-my-doing-something-related-to/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) [Explore all 67 Richard Avedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) ## More Below the surface quotes > [Americans are so often thrown by Japan. It looks familiar but, an inch below the surface, it isn't anything like the West at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-davidson/americans-are-so-often-thrown-by-japan-it-looks-familiar-but-an-inch/) [Cathy Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-davidson/) > [Observance of customs and laws can very easily be a cloak for a lie so subtle that our fellow human beings are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/observance-of-customs-and-laws-can-very-easily-be-a-cloak-for-a-lie/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“Philosophy, if it cannot answer so many questions as we could wish, has at least the power of asking questions which increase the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/philosophy-if-it-cannot-answer-so-many-questions-as-we-could-wish-has/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [...Was it because a lot of the heat went into melting Arctic sea ice or parts of Greenland and Antarctica, and other glaciers? Was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-e-trenberth/was-it-because-a-lot-of-the-heat-went-into-melting-arctic-sea-ice-or/) Kevin E. Trenberth > [Fiona has the same glacial beauty of an iceburg, but unlike the iceburg she has absolutely nothing below the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/fiona-has-the-same-glacial-beauty-of-an-iceburg-but-unlike-the/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/my-photographs-don-t-go-below-the-surface-they-don-t-go-below/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Women want everything of a lover. And too often I would sink below the surface. So armies disappear under sand. And there was her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/women-want-everything-of-a-lover-and-too-often-i-would-sink-below-the/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Many times when I stop working on a problem consciously, my mind continues to work on it below the surface. Often solutions come on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/many-times-when-i-stop-working-on-a-problem-consciously-my-mind/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [English life is seventh-eighths below the surface, like an iceberg, and living in England for a year constitutes merely an introduction to an introduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/english-life-is-seventh-eighths-below-the-surface-like-an-iceberg-and/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [Now imagine that you are going beneath the surface of the ocean. Below the surface all is calm, silent, and serene. As you visualize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/now-imagine-that-you-are-going-beneath-the-surface-of-the-ocean-below/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The more familiar people are with the ecosystem that lives below the surface - invisible until you're actually in the ocean - the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bowermaster/the-more-familiar-people-are-with-the-ecosystem-that-lives-below-the/) Jon Bowermaster > [Many fires burn below the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empedocles/many-fires-burn-below-the-surface/) [Empedocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empedocles/) > [Below the surface stream, shallow and light, Of what we say and feel below the stream, As light, of what we think we feel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/below-the-surface-stream-shallow-and-light-of-what-we-say-and-feel/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Vermont tradition is based on the idea that group life should leave each person as free as possible to arrange his own life. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-canfield-fisher/vermont-tradition-is-based-on-the-idea-that-group-life-should-leave/) [Dorothy Canfield Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-canfield-fisher/) > [She was doing that thing some people do when they act nice and chipper and interested, while just below the surface they’re thinking really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-von-ziegesar/she-was-doing-that-thing-some-people-do-when-they-act-nice-and/) [Cecily von Ziegesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-von-ziegesar/) [Browse all 48 Below the surface quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/below-the-surface/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My photographs don't go below the surface. They don't go below anything. They're readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. 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