Marc Riboud
[Photographer, b. 1923, St.-Genis-Laval, France, d. 2016, Paris.]
For me, the photographer is a witness. His job is to record real events rather than to stage or create something in front of the camera.
James Nachtwey
[Photographer, b. 1948, Syracuse, New York, lives in New York.]
I attempt to become as totally responsible to the subject as I possibly can. The act of being an outsider aiming a camera can be a violation of humanity. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person’s predicament. The extent to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other, and to that extent I can accept myself.
John Hoagland
[Photojournalist, b. 1947, San Diego, California, d. 1984, El Salvador.]
I don’t believe in objectivity. Everyone has a point of view. But I won’t be a propagandist for anyone. If you do something right, I’m going to take your picture. If you do something wrong, I’m going to take your picture also.
Laura Mulvey
[Writer and filmmaker, b. 1941, Oxford, lives in London.]
The defining male gaze projects its phantasy on to the female figure who is styled accordingly. In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote
to-be-looked-at-ness.
Larry Sultan
[Photographer, b. 1946, Brooklyn, New York, d. 2009, Greenbrae, California.]
“Pornography” is such a loaded word. I think it’s gotten really clear recently because we’ve seen some really serious pornography with the Iraqi prisoners, along with the graphic descriptions of what happened. It’s really a time of oppression and also a time of such perversion. My work is so mild, and so much about tenderness and empathy—there’s nothing pornographic about it.
William Faulkner
[Writer, b. 1897, New Albany, Mississippi, d. 1962, Oxford, Mississippi.]
No photographs, no recorded documents.
(His vow to keep his “refuse” out of history)
Nan Goldin
[Photographer, b. 1953, Washington, D.C., lives in New York and Paris.]
There is a popular notion that the photographer is by nature a voyeur, the last one to be invited to the party. But I’m not crashing; this is my party. This is my family, my friends.
Diane Arbus
[Photographer, b. 1923, New York, d. 1971, New York.]
The process itself has a kind of exactitude, a kind of scrutiny that we’re not normally subject to. I mean that we don't subject each other to. We’re nicer to each other than the intervention of the camera is going to make us. It’s a little bit cold, a little bit harsh.
