Attempting Quote by Wright Morris
“After many months of writing, it occured to me that it might be possible to photograph, in the flesh, what I was attempting to capture in words. I bought a Rolleiflex camera and began to take pictures of objects or structures that were used and abused by human hands”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Camera and the Word", 1939
The photographer attempts to translate written description into visual form, using a camera to capture the tangible effects of human activity on objects and structures.
In simple terms: Turn words into pictures of human‑made things.
Key Takeaway
Use images to illustrate written ideas.
Themes
observation
translation
human impact
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
documentary
artistic
When to use this quote
- architectural documentation
- industrial history
- artistic projects
Key Concepts
visual storytelling
material culture
photography
Questions to Reflect On
- What can a photo reveal that text cannot?
- How does medium choice affect perception?
A Different Perspective
Photographs may not fully convey the nuance of language.
![“[We] make images to see clearly: then we see clearly what we have made.” quote by Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/46b/wright-morris-25032_clearly_we-make-images-to-see-clearly-then-we-se_29278.jpg)
![“However much [photographs] may lie, they do so with the raw materials of truth.” quote by Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a03/wright-morris-25032_lying_however-much-photographs-may-lie-they-do_1178032.jpg)
