There’s something about a well-phrased quote that hits different. Especially when it puts into words what we’ve felt while holding a camera. More than being just quotes, they are tools we can use to improve our photography skills. Each one reveals a truth about what it means to slow down and photograph with intention.
Here’s what they can teach us.
1. “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson
It’s not criticism. It’s a permission slip. The early stages of photography are messy, and they’re supposed to be. Every “bad” photo teaches you something. The key is to keep shooting, not to be perfect.
What to take away: Let go of the pressure to get it right immediately. The more you shoot, the more your eye will sharpen.
2. “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know.” — Diane Arbus
Not every photo needs to explain itself. In fact, the most powerful ones often raise questions. They make you feel something, even if you can’t fully describe what it is.
What to take away: Don’t be afraid of ambiguity. Let your images breathe. Not every story needs a period at the end.
3. “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.” — Ansel Adams
Photography can speak when language falls short. It’s a way of processing, expressing, and understanding the world — especially when you don’t have the words.
What to take away: Trust your eye to say what your voice can’t. Photography can be a form of therapy, storytelling, and release.
4. “Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” — Ansel Adams
In the age of endless content, this quote is a powerful reminder: quality matters more than quantity. You don’t need to be prolific, you just need to be present.
What to take away: Slow down. Make fewer, better photographs. Give your work time to grow.
5. “Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” — Marc Riboud
Photography is, at its core, an act of presence. When you’re really seeing, you move beyond just recording. You’re experiencing more deeply.
What to take away: Let your camera be a way to anchor you in the moment.
6. “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” — Robert Capa
Capa was talking about physical proximity, but also emotional closeness. Good photography often requires intimacy, vulnerability, and the willingness to step into the scene. Don’t stay safely on the edge.
What to take away: Get closer, both literally and figuratively. Emotion lives in detail.
7. “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” — Dorothea Lange
The more you practice photography, the more you start to see. Light. Gesture. Timing. Mood. It changes how you move through the world.
What to take away: Even when you’re not shooting, you’re still training your eye. Seeing is the real skill. The camera just comes second.
8. “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” — Ansel Adams
Every photo carries the photographer’s perspective. What do they chose to include? To leave out? It tells the story of where they stood and what they felt.
What to take away: Your voice matters. Even if you’re photographing something ordinary, the way you see it makes it yours.
9. “A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.” — Annie Leibovitz
Photographing people requires more than technique. You also need real connection. You have to care. And it shows.
What to take away: Bring empathy into your work. Whether it’s a person, a place, or a passing moment, allow it move you.
10. “Great photography is always on the edge of failure.” — Garry Winogrand
Some of your best work will come from taking risks. From trying things that might not work. Motion blur. Odd angles. Strange light. What matters is that you tried.
What to take away: Be willing to fail. Make bold choices. That’s where your voice begins to take form.
✧ Final Thought
You don’t need to memorise these quotes. You need to live them. Let them sit in the back of your mind next time you’re out with your camera. They should be reminders to stay curious, take risks, and above all, keep noticing.
MELISSA MARTINSEN 