Harold Feinstein Quotes

Powerful Harold Feinstein for Daily Growth

About Harold Feinstein

Harold Feinstein (September 17, 1926 – February 15, 2015) was an American photographer whose work spanned over seven decades, capturing the essence of everyday life with a poignant emotional intensity. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Feinstein showed an early interest in art and photography, frequently visiting local museums and galleries. In 1944, at just eighteen years old, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the Pacific theater. The haunting images of war's devastation left a profound impact on Feinstein, shaping his artistic perspective and informing much of his later work. After his discharge in 1946, he enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he studied under Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind, two influential figures in the American avant-garde photography movement. Feinstein's association with these renowned artists exposed him to new techniques and ideas that would significantly influence his own artistic development. Feinstein's career took off when Edward Steichen, then Director of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), acquired several of his images for the museum's permanent collection. This validation propelled Feinstein into prominence within the photography world. Throughout his life, Feinstein produced numerous iconic series such as "Providence: The Jewel City," "The Faces of the Holocaust," and "Summer on Cape Cod." His work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums worldwide, including MoMA, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Australia. Harold Feinstein's contributions to photography extend beyond his imagery; he also played a crucial role in shaping the next generation of photographers as an educator at RISD for over three decades. His legacy continues to inspire artists and admirers alike, leaving behind a profound body of work that captures the human spirit with unparalleled sensitivity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."

Harold Feinstein's quote emphasizes the emotional significance and enduring power of photography. Photography is more than just a mechanical process; it carries feelings, touches hearts, and expresses love. Each captured image serves as a permanent reminder of fleeting moments, preserving memories that might otherwise be forgotten. Through its ability to remember and evoke emotions, photography transcends the boundaries of time, connecting people across generations.


"In photography there is a reality so strong, so clear, it leaves other realities behind, as one leaves a dimly lit room to enter a sunny one."

This quote suggests that the power of photography lies in its ability to capture and present an intense, vivid truth that surpasses ordinary or familiar realities. Much like stepping from a dark room into bright sunlight, the reality portrayed in a well-composed photograph can leave behind the mundane aspects of life and offer a new, illuminating perspective. In essence, photography, according to Feinstein, has the unique ability to transcend the ordinary and reveal a heightened truth or beauty that resonates deeply with us.


"I think of photography as a form of poetry where the words have been left out - but the emotions remain."

This quote by Harold Feinstein suggests that photography, like poetry, has the power to evoke deep emotional responses from its audience, even though it lacks explicit words. He views the art of photography as a means of communicating complex feelings and ideas without relying on language alone. Photography, in this context, is seen as a non-verbal form of poetry where the emotions that the image conveys can resonate with viewers, making it an effective tool for storytelling and expression.


"A good photograph is knowing where to stand."

The quote "A good photograph is knowing where to stand" by Harold Feinstein implies that capturing a great photograph is not just about having the right equipment or technical skills, but also about understanding the scene, composing it effectively, and choosing the correct perspective – essentially, knowing where to position oneself to best represent the subject or story being told. It emphasizes the importance of composition, framing, and personal interpretation in photography.


"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them."

Harold Feinstein's quote suggests that photography isn't just capturing what is visibly present, but rather observing and discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary. It emphasizes the importance of perspective, implying that an artist can create beauty or interest where others might see nothing remarkable by finding unique angles, patterns, or moods. This view encourages photographers to cultivate their own distinct way of seeing, transforming seemingly mundane scenes into compelling images.


Coney Island is and always will be 'the people's playground.' It's a place where people of all backgrounds come to have a good time.

- Harold Feinstein

Island, Will, Always, Backgrounds

Mostly, I worked so quickly, I didn't see the details of a photograph until it was printed.

- Harold Feinstein

See, Mostly, Worked, Printed

I was born in Coney Island. I like to think I fell out of the womb onto the fun park's giant Parachute Jump while eating a Nathan's hot dog.

- Harold Feinstein

Think, Island, Like, Parachute

I always feel I had a very lucky life. For example, I sure didn't want to go in the army: when I was drafted in the Korean War, I wanted to go as a photographer. But luckily, they put me in the infantry - luckily because the official photographer was photographing the medal awarding and all the official situations.

- Harold Feinstein

Lucky, Very, Luckily, Korean War

I love this life. I feel like I am always catching my breath and saying, 'Oh! Will you look at that?' Photography has been my way of bearing witness to the joy I find in seeing the extraordinary in ordinary life. You don't look for pictures. Your pictures are looking for you.

- Harold Feinstein

Love, Feel, Been, Ordinary Life

The only time I've ever really felt envy is when I've watched people make music, which made my time living in the now-legendary Jazz Loft at 821 Sixth Avenue in New York a constant source of agony and ecstasy!

- Harold Feinstein

Envy, Jazz, Constant, Only Time

I was drawn to street photography because there are pictures everywhere there: a woman holding a dog, a baby screaming to be put in a pram, kids playing punch ball, stores with huge barrels of kosher pickles outside. I wanted to photograph life, and here it was.

- Harold Feinstein

Woman, Pictures, Here, Barrels

I began photographing in 1946. Before that, I was a painter and drawer, with my mother and father's support. They were a bit pissed when I went into photography. They thought photographers were guys who took pictures at weddings.

- Harold Feinstein

Father, Thought, Before, Drawer

You must photograph where you are involved; where you are overwhelmed by what you see before you; where you hold your breath while releasing the shutter, not because you are afraid of jarring the camera, but because you are seeing with your guts wide open to the sweet pain of an image that is part of your life.

- Harold Feinstein

Overwhelmed, Before, Part, Camera

Coney Island was the centre of the world for me. I loved the rides, the hot dogs - I've never gotten over it.

- Harold Feinstein

Hot Dogs, Over, Over It, Centre

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