--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did it once, and National Geographic…" description: "\"I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on that campaign...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/sam-abell-7768_campaigns_i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-re_22150.png" --- # I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did… ![“I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on that campaign. Ernst Haas had done the early photography, and I knew him. There's a lore in photography about that campaign, and I was curious.” quote by Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/sam-abell-7768_campaigns_i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-re_22150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/sam-abell-7768_campaigns_i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-re_22150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/sam-abell-7768_campaigns_i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-re_22150.png) > “I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on that campaign. Ernst Haas had done the early photography, and I knew him. There's a lore in photography about that campaign, and I was curious.” [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker pursued a project driven by curiosity, inspired by the legacy of renowned photographers and the mythos surrounding the campaign. **In simple terms:** Curiosity fuels creative endeavors. Key Takeaway Legacy and lore can motivate participation. Themes curiosity legacy inspiration photography mythos Mood inspired reflective Type personal anecdote professional insight When to use this quote - photographers seeking inspiration - artists joining historic campaigns - individuals motivated by legacy Key Concepts creative motivation historical influence Practical Applications - documentary storytelling - brand collaborations Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to join a project beyond practical benefits? - How does awareness of past masters shape your approach? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [Media today is even more black and white, then early photography ever was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loesje/media-today-is-even-more-black-and-white-then-early-photography-ever/) [Loesje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loesje/) > [The photographers I worked alongside loved the news cycle and the hustle and getting that front page of the newspaper. But I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berehulak/the-photographers-i-worked-alongside-loved-the-news-cycle-and-the/) [Daniel Berehulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berehulak/) > [I've noticed that the people who started on film still have the ability to see the person in front of them. Whereas for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-ve-noticed-that-the-people-who-started-on-film-still-have-the/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I had done a lot of rock 'n' roll photography when I was in college. I was one of many photographers who worked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dykstra/i-had-done-a-lot-of-rock-n-roll-photography-when-i-was-in-college-i/) [John Dykstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dykstra/) > [One of the leading uses of photography by the mass media came to be called photojournalism. From the late 'twenties' to the early 'fifties'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/one-of-the-leading-uses-of-photography-by-the-mass-media-came-to-be/) [John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/) > [When I first went to 'National Geographic,' I thought I was the least qualified person to step through the doors. But because of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/when-i-first-went-to-national-geographic-i-thought-i-was-the-least/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [I was asked by a student what my most significant accomplishment was at National Geographic, after thirty years, and I said that my career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-was-asked-by-a-student-what-my-most-significant-accomplishment-was/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Though Geographic didn't publish that photo in the story that it was done for, "The Life of Charlie Russell," a cowboy artist in Montana.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/though-geographic-didn-t-publish-that-photo-in-the-story-that-it-was/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [My least favorite photographer to have would be myself. Someone who wanted a career at National Geographic. 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I subscribe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-don-t-actually-have-a-one-wellspring-of-inspiration-though-i-m-most/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I'm a big fan of 'National Geographic', the magazine and the channel. Anything to do with the natural world. For years, when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weston-jones/i-m-a-big-fan-of-national-geographic-the-magazine-and-the-channel/) [Tom Weston-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-weston-jones/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) ## More by Sam Abell > [Photography, alone of the arts, seems perfected to serve the desire humans have for a moment - this very moment - to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/photography-alone-of-the-arts-seems-perfected-to-serve-the-desire/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [I can't speak for other photographers, but the photographers who went forward strongly when the so-called "official" part of their career ended, to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-can-t-speak-for-other-photographers-but-the-photographers-who-went/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Actually, ambition won't get you that far. 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