Believe Quote by William Klein
“I was a make believe ethnographer: treating New Yorkers like an explorer would treat Zulus - searching for the rawest snapshot, the zero degree of photography.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Who Are You, 1972
Klein likens his street photography to an ethnographic study, seeking unfiltered, raw moments of New York life.
In simple terms: He treats city scenes like a scientific field study.
Observe people without preconceptions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- documentary projects
- street photography workshops
- urban sociology research
- media studies
- journalistic reporting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing a city as a field affect your perception?
- What ethical lines exist in candid photography?
The approach may romanticize subjects and overlook context.