--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My pictures are complex and so am I. When…" description: "\"My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost symbolistic in writing, there is a more limiting difference’s of accepting, while I can be even m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg" --- # My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost… ![“My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost symbolistic in writing, there is a more limiting difference’s of accepting, while I can be even more complex in the photographs and people can usually accept them within the framework of their own limitations or lack of limitations – there is…” quote by W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg) > “My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost symbolistic in writing, there is a more limiting difference’s of accepting, while I can be even more complex in the photographs and people can usually accept them within the framework of their own limitations or lack of limitations – there is no dictionary meaning… they can look up for the photographic image and allow it to confuse them.” [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the intertwined complexity of the photographer’s vision and the viewer’s perception, suggesting that art can be both personal and ambiguous, inviting varied interpretations. **In simple terms:** Art can be complex and open to many interpretations. Key Takeaway Embrace ambiguity in creative expression. Themes art perception interpretation complexity Mood thoughtful reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - personal photography projects - art criticism - educational workshops Key Concepts subjectivity visual language communication Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape your reading of an image? - When does ambiguity enhance or hinder artistic impact? A Different Perspective Interpretation may vary widely, making shared meaning difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Accepting Complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-complex-4992947/) [Complex Photographs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-photographs-4992950/) [Complex Symbolistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-symbolistic-4992948/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Difference Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-accepting-4992951/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Framework](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/framework/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Look up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-up/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photograph/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Symbolistic Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolistic-writing-4992949/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [If you look in the dictionary under 'perfectionist,' you see Henry Selick correcting the definition of perfectionist in the dictionary. I mean, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/if-you-look-in-the-dictionary-under-perfectionist-you-see-henry/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," and Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/there-is-a-word-kristos-in-the-greek-dictionary-and-this-word-is/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [“A dictionary is a ship that crosses the sea of words,” said Araki, with a sense that he was laying bare his innermost soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shion-miura/a-dictionary-is-a-ship-that-crosses-the-sea-of-words-said-araki-with/) [Shion Miura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shion-miura/) > [I'm not sure what to call 'Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.' Nonfiction? Movie/toy fiction? But it is any Lego/'Star Wars' kid's dream. Call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/i-m-not-sure-what-to-call-lego-star-wars-the-visual-dictionary/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [Weird itself, even in the dictionary, is just something that is different and unexplainable. A weirdo is someone who follows their heart. Im definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/weird-itself-even-in-the-dictionary-is-just-something-that-is/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [“We have control on every word of the dictionary except for the 2:; "Death" and "Heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-tak/we-have-control-on-every-word-of-the-dictionary-except-for-the-2/) [Nikita Tak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-tak/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Every dictionary contains a world. I open a book of thieves’ slang from Queen Anne’s reign and they have a hundred words for swords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/every-dictionary-contains-a-world-i-open-a-book-of-thieves-slang-from/) [Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [What's a depression? The dictionary says a depression is a dent. And what's a dent? Everybody knows a dent is a hole. And what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-durante/what-s-a-depression-the-dictionary-says-a-depression-is-a-dent-and/) [Jimmy Durante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-durante/) > [The only place where compensation comes before service is in the dictionary or anywhere the government meddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-only-place-where-compensation-comes-before-service-is-in-the/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“I hereby propose the term “miserize”, as a verb for misery – referring to “to cause misery”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-hereby-propose-the-term-miserize-as-a-verb-for-misery-referring-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I'm pretty sure that if you looked up the word "nuts" in the dictionary, you'll find my picture. Just another fun feature of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-pretty-sure-that-if-you-looked-up-the-word-nuts-in-the-dictionary/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by W. Eugene Smith > [If I can get them to think, get them to feel, get them to see, then I've done about all that I can as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/if-i-can-get-them-to-think-get-them-to-feel-get-them-to-see-then-i-ve/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [... to became neighbours and friends instead of journalists. This is the way to make your finest photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/to-became-neighbours-and-friends-instead-of-journalists-this-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Most photographers seem to operate with a pane of glass between themselves and their subjects. They just can't get inside and know the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/most-photographers-seem-to-operate-with-a-pane-of-glass-between/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I was after a set of pictures, so that when people looked at them they would say, ‘This is war’-that the people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-was-after-a-set-of-pictures-so-that-when-people-looked-at-them-they/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-like-to-be-an-artist-in-an/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The first word I would remove from the folklore of journalism is the word objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/the-first-word-i-would-remove-from-the-folklore-of-journalism-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [What's the best type of light? Why that would be available light... and by available light I mean any damn light is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/what-s-the-best-type-of-light-why-that-would-be-available-light-and/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-constantly-torn-between-the-attitude-of-the-conscientious/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [You can't photograph if you're not in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/you-can-t-photograph-if-you-re-not-in-love/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I think photojournalism is documentary photography with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-think-photojournalism-is-documentary-photography-with-a-purpose/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not-the-coverage-of-a-news-event/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Many claim I am a photographer of tragedy. In the greater sense I am not, for though I often photograph where the tragic emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/many-claim-i-am-a-photographer-of-tragedy-in-the-greater-sense-i-am/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [My camera, my intentions stopped no man from falling. Nor did they aid him after he had fallen. It could be said that photographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-camera-my-intentions-stopped-no-man-from-falling-nor-did-they-aid/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. Out of the depth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-deep-and-emotion-also-one-that/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I didn’t write the rules. Why would I follow them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-didn-t-write-the-rules-why-would-i-follow-them/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) [Explore all 37 W. Eugene Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost symbolistic in writing, there is a more limiting difference’s of accepting, while I can be even more complex in the photographs and people can usually accept them within the framework of their own limitations or lack of limitations – there is no dictionary meaning… they can look up for the photographic image and allow it to confuse them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. Eugene Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when-i-am-almost-symbolistic-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when-i-am-almost-symbolistic-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/w-eugene-smith-17192_accepting_my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when_3037984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My pictures are complex and so am I. When I am almost symbolistic in writing, there is a more limiting…” — W. Eugene Smith", "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": "W. Eugene Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My pictures are complex and so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when-i-am-almost-symbolistic-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-pictures-are-complex-and-so-am-i-when-i-am-almost-symbolistic-in/#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 } } ] } ```