Commenting on Richard Avedon's Quote

   September 21st, 2022

Richard Avedon Quote Comments  

By: Connor Albaugh

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy, January 3, 1961

*Comment on Richard Avedon's quote and choose an image from the internet to illustrate your writing. 

*Quote: "The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph, it is no longer a fact but an opinion. There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate. None of them is true." 

        When reading this quote by Richard Avedon, I was rather intrigued. I read it several times and yet, I was still was at a loss for words as to how I would actively respond to such a quote from one of the greats in portrait photography. A quote of such detail should be unpacked in small increments which allows a reader to comprehend the main idea as well as form some sort of self definition in regards to the quote. Not only is this quote fascinating, but it expresses several things about photography that make it seem easier to understand than most people make it out to be. 

        "The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph, it is no longer a fact but an opinion" is the first line of Richard Avedon's quote that is shown above. For the purpose of its accuracy, I agree with this statement. When a photographer takes a photograph, there are certainly things behind the scenes that go on that the viewer may not necessarily know about. This could be how the photo was taken, the number of light sources used to illumine the subject, how the subject was determined, etc. Regardless of all of these factors, I believe that the production of an image, whatever it may be, becomes an "opinion". Here, Richard essentially is saying that from the viewer's point of view, the emotions, details, or other aspects that a viewer picks up on and gathers to be their own forms their own personal interpretation. The "opinion" part of a photo is "up in the air" so to say that anyone who takes the time to view or appreciate the photograph will establish some sort of meaning. Like I mentioned prior, the photographer behind the scenes will most likely more well-versed in the context of their photograph then the viewer, for example. This is simply because they orchestrated the photograph and ended up producing the photograph to show to the public in a museum, show in a magazine, etc. With this "opinion" factor, the field of view in terms of seeing the photo in a different way for each person gives the photo a new meaning. Everyone picks up on something different in a photo, sees more or less importance in certain areas, gives it more or less attention based on their likes and dislikes, etc. The ability for a photograph to be "an opinion" means that there is no defined meaning, but simply the meaning found in the photo is all up to the viewer and what they make of it. "There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate." is the second and third line in Richard Avedon's quote that is shown above. As important as the first line, this line really moved me in a photographic sense. When one sees a photograph, they may think that the angle used doesn't create a certain aesthetic, the lighting may either be too dark or too bright, the focus on an object lacks, etc. There are so many different pieces of an image that one can simply pick apart and try to find some type of meaning, emotion, or feelings toward. With every photo exhibiting different aspects, the idea of "inaccuracy" becomes a label placed onto a particular image from "viewer opinion". Viewers may be used to seeing different photos and something that is shown to them that seems to be out of the ordinary may invoke them to question the accuracy of the photo. With this in mind, every single photograph, regardless of the photographer and what it depicts, demonstrates accuracy. Photographers have different styles of work that they chose to implement into their photography which in turn allows them to be unique in their photographic approach to produce images of excellent quality. "None of them is true" is the last and final line in Richard Avedon's quote shown above. In this case, there is no "right or wrong answer" as to what a viewer should direct their focus to in a photograph. Photography is a lot like our freedom as a US citizen. There are things that exist such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, etc. People in this case can do as they please, without disrupting peace or causing harm or other danger to other fellow citizens. The same logic applies to photography in a sense. Viewers of photographs are free to feel, comment, admire, and determine any mood they feel is appropriate to the picture they are looking at. Each photo will mean something different to everyone and some will force themselves to find deeper meaning than others. At the end of the day, the value one holds on something, such as a photograph, all comes from the person viewing the image. They will ultimately be the ones in terms of whether they invest the necessary time to appreciate the beauty of a photograph or if they would rather glaze over it and move on with their lives. Opportunity is there, as it is up to the person whether they decide to take it or not and the extent they push towards. 

           Reading this quote really helped me see photography in a different light. It forced me to think outside of the box and helped me to come to reasonable conclusions regarding my thought process and overall feeling of photography and Richard Avedon's quote. On behalf of my understanding, I picked out a photograph that helped me to reinforce my logic behind a photograph and what to do with that. The photo I chose was of John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Article #1). For purposes of quality, I think that the lighting adds a dramatic effect to the image. As many of us know, JFK was the 35th President of the United States. Many Americans really liked this man, while other prayed on his downfall. Unfortunately, he was assassinated while riding in his motorcade in Texas. This day was a grey day for the American people, as losing your president isn't something that one thought would happen. The black and white film on this image is symbolic because is creates a nostalgic feeling because of the impact JFK had on the people. His slight smile shows his happiness, but also that he means business. The lighting directed at JFK and his wife's face directs the viewers attention to their facial expressions. JFK's wife is holding JFK's arm and she smiles at him which highlights not only her love for her husband, but the smile is an indication of being proud of her husband's work. Not only this, but that JFK is well respected and admires him for who he is. JFK simply faces the camera where his series side and non-series side coexist where he means business and takes pride in his appearance, but isn't afraid to show off a smile in an effort to bring tranquility or lighten the tension of a situation. The grey vignette around the top and corners of the photograph directs the viewer to the main attraction of the photo: JFK and his wife. Not only does it provide a frame, but makes the image seem as if JFK and his wife were in the spotlight for how important they were to our society at a point in our history. The poses are good, as they allow for JFK and his wife to show their different personalities as well as create a safe and calming mood as they sit together being photographed. Last but not least, the focus of the image is brilliant. The hair texture, clothing material, and facial features are all readily apparent to the viewer in a clear manner without having to worry about certain elements being out of focus. 

          As I took the opportunity to develop meaning, both to Richard Avedon's quote and to the image I chose to, these two paragraphs make for good cohesion. The ability for one to discuss aspects of an image with a clear mind and make some sort of sense with the image enforces the "opinion" portion of the image. For example, a viewer may look directly at JFK's suit and spend the majority of their time on that aspect instead of me mentioning his presidency, for example. This scenario not only encourages opinions to be generated, but that each person seeks out their own individual way of interpreting a photograph. Additionally, the ability for me to discuss things like the lighting, focus, and mood within the JFK photograph not only yields an opinion, but does so without any worry of inaccuracy. There was no description nor developed theme surrounding the details and elements within the JFK image. The photograph and the ability to break it down allows one to find their own "individual accuracy" as to what the viewer sees in the image and what it offers to them. With no set destination or destined understanding of the photograph, there can be no right or wrong take or interpretation of such an image let alone any photograph because each and every person will find different things to talk about concerning the image. Having the freedom to discuss and appreciate an image for what it is able to show brings to light "the truth factor involved with a photograph". The funny part is, there isn't one. What one deems to be likeable or captivating in an image relies heavily on the individual and their willingness to find meaning that resonates with their feelings and emotions. 

Sources:

Article #1 - https://maryckhayes.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/simply-stunning-richard-avedons-portraits/