” I don’t see anybody as either ordinary or extraordinary. I see them simply as people in front of my lens. “
” I realise that I had the best of serious picture journalism. There was an innocence in our approach, especially in the 1950s and 1960s when we naively believed that by holding a mirror up to the world we could help – no matter how little – to make people aware of the human condition. “
” I look for a sense of reality with everything I did. I didn’t work in a studio, I didn’t light anything. I found a way of working which pleased me because I didn’t have to frighten people with heavy equipment. It was that little black box and me and £5 worth of film in my pocket or maybe it was only £2 in those days. “
” What has changed is that when I photographed, most people that I photographed didn’t have the right of refusal on their work. It would take a Marilyn Monroe at her height to be able to dictate that. “
” If a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given. “
” What I have tried to do is involve the people I was photographing… if they were willing to give, I was willing to photograph. “
” If you are careful with people, they will offer you part of themselves. That is the big secret. “
” If the chemistry is right between star and photographer and the geometry of the pictures pleases the star, often the two people end up with a long-term professional friendship during which they continue to work together and to produce highly personal images. “
All 8 Eve Arnold Quotes about People in picture
Topics: People quotes