Legendary Photographers

Although fairly new in the larger scope of things, the art photography has been blessed by a number of amazing masters.  Luckily for those of us still developing our art, many of these masters have left behind a body of works and words that can guide us, inspire us, and remind us of truths we may have forgotten, truths that perhaps teeter on the edges of our thoughts, but have not yet found their landing place in our hearts.And though most of us have seen their work (i.e. the dramatic black and white landscapes of Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz’s iconic portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono), few of us have had the opportunity to hear them speak with words.  So without further ado, here are 20 of the most inspiring, revealing and/or illustrative quotes from legendary photographers:

Richard Avedon

“My photographs don’t go below the surface. They don’t go below anything. They’re readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues.”

Robert Capa

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”

“Like the people you shoot and let them know it.”

David LaChapelle

“You just do what you love, and then a style happens later on. People put it together and decide it’s yours.”