"Photographs are a magic but fragile medium."
Duane Michals' statement "Photographs are a magic but fragile medium" captures the dual nature of photography. On one hand, photographs have a magical quality, they can freeze moments in time, transport us to different places, and evoke powerful emotions. However, these moments captured are inherently fragile, subject to decay, loss, or misinterpretation over time, making their magic all the more precious and fleeting.
"I am primarily concerned with making emotional statements."
Duane Michals, in this statement, expresses his main artistic focus: communicating emotions through his work. He prioritizes creating art that resonates emotionally rather than being driven solely by technical skill or intellectual themes. This emphasis on emotion gives his photography a deeply personal touch, allowing viewers to connect with the underlying feelings and experiences he conveys.
"The photograph is a way of saying something that can't be said any other way."
This quote by Duane Michals emphasizes photography's unique ability to communicate emotions, ideas, or experiences that might be challenging to express through words alone. It highlights the power of visual storytelling in conveying complex feelings, universal truths, or abstract concepts that can resonate deeply with viewers, transcending language barriers and creating a powerful connection between the image and its audience.
"I want to be remembered for the photographs, not for the words."
This quote suggests that the visual impact and artistic expression captured in Duane Michals' photography is his primary means of making a lasting impression, rather than through any accompanying written or spoken words. His work speaks for itself, conveying emotions, stories, and ideas in a way that transcends language barriers and engages viewers on an emotional level.
"If a photograph doesn't shock me, I won't take it."
This quote emphasizes that for Duane Michals, photography should challenge or surprise him to some degree in order to be worth creating. He seeks novelty and originality in his work, pushing the boundaries of what is conventionally considered a good photograph. Shock value doesn't necessarily mean offensive or disturbing; instead, it implies an image that stirs strong emotions, provokes thought, or challenges one's perception. Essentially, Michals strives for photographs that make an impact and stand out from the ordinary.
I still find doing portraits a terrific challenge, but even though I've done hundreds of them, I've never stopped questioning the very nature of portraiture because it deals exclusively with appearances. I've never believed people are what they look like and think it's impossible to really know what people are.
- Duane Michals
Photographers usually want to photograph facts and things. But I'm interested in the nature of the thing itself. A photograph of someone sleeping tells me nothing about their dream state; a photograph of a corpse tells me nothing about the nature of death. My work is about my life as an event, and I find myself to be very temporal, transient.
- Duane Michals
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