Angle Quote by Susan Sontag
“To us, the difference between the # photographer as an individual eye and the photographer as an objective recorder seems fundamental, the difference often regarded, mistakenly, as separating photography as art from # photography as document. But both are logical extensions of what photography means: note-taking on, potentially, everything in the world, from every possible angle.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On Photography” by Susan Sontag, 1977
Photography can be both personal expression and factual record, each informing the other as ways of seeing the world.
In simple terms: Photos capture personal view and objective truth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize both artistic and documentary value.
Themes
art
documentation
perception
truth
visual culture
Mood
reflective
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- journalism
- personal projects
- archival work
- exhibitions
- education
Key Concepts
subjectivity
objectivity
media theory
semiotics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to prioritize artistic vision over factual recording?
- What responsibilities arise when documenting reality?
A Different Perspective
Balancing personal bias with factual accuracy can be challenging.
![“Most of the note-taking happens while I'm watching television. It's a broad window on the world, and a lot of things are already established in my mind as things I say, things that I'm interested in, things that are fodder for my [stand-up] machine. And when I see something that relates to one of…” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a40/george-carlin-155_broads_most-of-the-note-taking-happens-while-i_754895.jpg)
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
![“Los Angles to me seems to be a little bit more forgiving. They're just as rowdy and they're just as excited but they understand a [botch] happens sometimes, and they're excited to see the show and they just want to have some fun.” quote by Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6f/adam-cole-3599_angle_los-angles-to-me-seems-to-be-a-little-bi_25891.jpg)
