--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It ain't the picture and it ain't the…" description: "\"It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the operator.\" — Simon Travaglia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg" --- # It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the… ![“It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the operator.” quote by Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg) > “It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the operator.” [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quality of a photo depends more on who takes it than on equipment or subject. **In simple terms:** Skill matters more than gear. Key Takeaway Focus on improving technique. Themes photography skill perspective Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - portrait sessions - documentary work - event coverage - personal projects Key Concepts visual perception human factor Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop your photographic eye? - What habits improve your shooting technique? A Different Perspective Good equipment cannot compensate for lack of skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Operator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operator/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) ## Related quotes > [Before the days of video village a director should stand right next to the camera, look with his naked eye and if he sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/before-the-days-of-video-village-a-director-should-stand-right-next/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [I started out as a camera operator. I was doing news, and I was doing sports - baseball games and football games. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kennedy/i-started-out-as-a-camera-operator-i-was-doing-news-and-i-was-doing/) [Kathleen Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kennedy/) > [ Pictures... are also opinions... \[they\] set down what the camera operator sees and he sees what he wants to see and what he loves… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/pictures-are-also-opinions-they-set-down-what-the-camera-operator/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Yes, if I had it my way I would do all the shots myself - I used to do that when I was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muren/yes-if-i-had-it-my-way-i-would-do-all-the-shots-myself-i-used-to-do/) [Dennis Muren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muren/) > [I love Ableton's vocoder and Operator for basic side subs and general low-end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/i-love-ableton-s-vocoder-and-operator-for-basic-side-subs-and-general/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [Mark de Mori is a solid operator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/mark-de-mori-is-a-solid-operator/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [Operator! Give me the number for 911!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/operator-give-me-the-number-for-911/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You’ll also hear developers refer to === (strict equality) as the “identity” operator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-freeman/you-ll-also-hear-developers-refer-to-strict-equality-as-the-identity/) [Eric Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-freeman/) > [911 operator what's your emergency Are ya'll hiring? follow me on FACEBOOK ; Dee Rackedd Upp II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-bey/911-operator-what-s-your-emergency-are-ya-ll-hiring-follow-me-on/) Derrick Bey > [A common pickpocket trick is for the operator to carry a shawl or overcoat carelessly over the left arm, and to take a seat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/a-common-pickpocket-trick-is-for-the-operator-to-carry-a-shawl-or/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [In 'Winter's Bone,' it's literally the director and the camera operator. That's it. Just a super-small Kubrick crew. You know what I mean? Like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/in-winter-s-bone-it-s-literally-the-director-and-the-camera-operator/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I don't know what would have happened to Wal-Mart if we had laid low and never stirred up the competition. My guess is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-wal-mart-if-we-had-laid-low/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Being a 911 operator means balancing seemingly contradictory skills. On one hand, operators have to be fanatically precise and well-organized. On the other, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-wolf/being-a-911-operator-means-balancing-seemingly-contradictory-skills/) [Gary Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-wolf/) > [If you had a national grid with one operator, you had twenty or even a hundred operators, if you don't have the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-abraham/if-you-had-a-national-grid-with-one-operator-you-had-twenty-or-even-a/) [Spencer Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-abraham/) > [“A big-time operator does not sleep with a woman of the town.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/a-big-time-operator-does-not-sleep-with-a-woman-of-the-town/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson ## More by Simon Travaglia > [There's no such thing as 'facts of life'. Only standing theories that haven't been disproved as of yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/there-s-no-such-thing-as-facts-of-life-only-standing-theories-that/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Excellent, there's nothing quite like a blunt object to reinforce proper administration ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/excellent-there-s-nothing-quite-like-a-blunt-object-to-reinforce/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [The greatest barrier to someone achieving their potential is their denial of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/the-greatest-barrier-to-someone-achieving-their-potential-is-their/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Knowing the rules and remembering the rules are two completely different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/knowing-the-rules-and-remembering-the-rules-are-two-completely/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Of all the things I could know, my own faults and weaknesses are pretty much the most important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/of-all-the-things-i-could-know-my-own-faults-and-weaknesses-are/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Allowing yourself to smile takes 99% of the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/allowing-yourself-to-smile-takes-99-of-the-effort/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Death is inevitable, but Life - that's the tricky bit where things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/death-is-inevitable-but-life-that-s-the-tricky-bit-where-things-happen/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [The problem I have with making an intelligent statement is that some people then think it's not an isolated occurrence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/the-problem-i-have-with-making-an-intelligent-statement-is-that-some/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Names are what people sometimes use to excuse their thoughts and actions towards you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/names-are-what-people-sometimes-use-to-excuse-their-thoughts-and/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Being able to write an idea down succinctly doesn't make that idea any better than one which rambles on a bit. It just comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/being-able-to-write-an-idea-down-succinctly-doesn-t-make-that-idea/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [It's good to follow the path of personal happiness to some extent. People tend to get upset however when you drive a steamroller down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-s-good-to-follow-the-path-of-personal-happiness-to-some-extent/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [It would absolutely suck if you paid a few bucks for a book only to find that on the first page it said, 'Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-would-absolutely-suck-if-you-paid-a-few-bucks-for-a-book-only-to/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [Don't borrow someone else's spectacles to view yourself with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/don-t-borrow-someone-else-s-spectacles-to-view-yourself-with/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) > [What I think we fear is rapid, pronounced, and uncontrollable changes to ourselves, and because of this we have a form of personality inertia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/what-i-think-we-fear-is-rapid-pronounced-and-uncontrollable-changes/) [Simon Travaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) [Explore all 15 Simon Travaglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/) ## 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": "It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the operator.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Travaglia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-camera-it-s-the-operator/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Camera" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-camera-it-s-the-operator/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/simon-travaglia-32586_camera_it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-ca_708612.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It ain't the picture and it ain't the camera - it's the operator.” — Simon Travaglia", "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": "Simon Travaglia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-travaglia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It ain't the picture and it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-camera-it-s-the-operator/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-travaglia/it-ain-t-the-picture-and-it-ain-t-the-camera-it-s-the-operator/#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 } } ] } ```