--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The camera gives you some control." description: "\"The camera gives you some control.\" — Ryan McGinley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png" --- # The camera gives you some control. ![“The camera gives you some control.” quote by Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png) > “The camera gives you some control.” [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control over the camera empowers creators to shape perception, focus, and narrative through visual framing. **In simple terms:** The camera lets you decide what to show. Key Takeaway Use framing to convey your vision. Themes creativity visual storytelling agency technology Mood inspirational artistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - photography projects - social media content - documentary work - artistic expression Key Concepts composition perspective visual narrative Questions to Reflect On - What story will you tell with your lens? - How does framing influence viewer emotion? A Different Perspective Technical limits can restrict expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [A camera gives you a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/a-camera-gives-you-a-purpose/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [The more a person seeks security, the more that person gives up control over their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-more-a-person-seeks-security-the-more-that-person-gives-up/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Having been on the other side of the camera gives me such perspective on what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/having-been-on-the-other-side-of-the-camera-gives-me-such-perspective/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [You don’t have to say that nature is aware of your existence, that God knows you are here. The camera gives you proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-samaras/you-don-t-have-to-say-that-nature-is-aware-of-your-existence-that-god/) [Lucas Samaras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-samaras/) > [The more a person seeks security, the more that person gives up control over his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-more-a-person-seeks-security-the-more-that-person-gives-up-2/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Joblessness gives you control over the product of your life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/joblessness-gives-you-control-over-the-product-of-your-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Being able to joke about my disability also gives me some control over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/being-able-to-joke-about-my-disability-also-gives-me-some-control/) [Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/) > [Getting your house in order and reducing the confusion gives you more control over your life. Personal organization some how releases or frees you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/getting-your-house-in-order-and-reducing-the-confusion-gives-you-more/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [Usually for cartoons, I record them in the mornings from 9 A.M. to noon, then I have the rest of the day to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-cipes/usually-for-cartoons-i-record-them-in-the-mornings-from-9-a-m-to-noon/) [Greg Cipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-cipes/) > [The true excitement comes from the actors - that gives you the true drama - and whatever I can do with the camera, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/the-true-excitement-comes-from-the-actors-that-gives-you-the-true/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) ## More by Ryan McGinley > [A lot of people, even my parents, thought, "Art school, I don't know. We'll support you but the success rate for artists is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/a-lot-of-people-even-my-parents-thought-art-school-i-don-t-know-we-ll/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I want to venture into film more, and I think that a nice way to transition into doing that would be a documentary. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-want-to-venture-into-film-more-and-i-think-that-a-nice-way-to/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I knew my ticket out of the suburbs was art school, so I worked really hard to develop my portfolio and get a scholarship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-knew-my-ticket-out-of-the-suburbs-was-art-school-so-i-worked-really/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [You find the people that you need to find. There's this gravitational pull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/you-find-the-people-that-you-need-to-find-there-s-this-gravitational/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I spent all of my money on film. I remember I would do these set-design jobs or transcribe or just anything to get, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-spent-all-of-my-money-on-film-i-remember-i-would-do-these-set/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [My photographs are a celebration of life, fun and the beautiful. They are a world that doesn't exist. A fantasy. Freedom is real. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/my-photographs-are-a-celebration-of-life-fun-and-the-beautiful-they/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I'm always interested in an atmosphere where dreams and reality mingle on equal terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-m-always-interested-in-an-atmosphere-where-dreams-and-reality/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [The cool thing for me about moving to New York was that I got to create a new family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/the-cool-thing-for-me-about-moving-to-new-york-was-that-i-got-to/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I think that's an important lesson for young people who want to be artists: You have to find someone who believes in you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-think-that-s-an-important-lesson-for-young-people-who-want-to-be/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [Actually, I didn't study photography at first. I went to school for painting my first year, poetry my second year, graphic design my third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/actually-i-didn-t-study-photography-at-first-i-went-to-school-for/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I didn't have much of a life in crime as a graffiti writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-life-in-crime-as-a-graffiti-writer/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [You have to be able to observe life as if you were a camera all the time, constantly looking at light and the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/you-have-to-be-able-to-observe-life-as-if-you-were-a-camera-all-the/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [Just having the camera, being able to pull back from situations and be an observer, it saved my life... I realised I could find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/just-having-the-camera-being-able-to-pull-back-from-situations-and-be/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [All I do is make photos. It's my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/all-i-do-is-make-photos-it-s-my-life/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I was growing up in the suburbs; I was one of eight kids. So I did have a community when I was younger, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/i-was-growing-up-in-the-suburbs-i-was-one-of-eight-kids-so-i-did-have/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) [Explore all 66 Ryan McGinley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The camera gives you some control.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan McGinley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/the-camera-gives-you-some-control/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Camera" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/the-camera-gives-you-some-control/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ryan-mcginley-10307_camera_the-camera-gives-you-some-control-202747_2027470.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The camera gives you some control.” — Ryan McGinley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryan McGinley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The camera gives you some control.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/the-camera-gives-you-some-control/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/the-camera-gives-you-some-control/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```