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A Camera Is Just A Box With A Hole In It

“A camera, like a guitar, is just a box with a hole in it. Until it is placed i the hands of a true artist, it will not make music, only noise.”

Check out this excellent webinar that PhotoShelter did with photographer Tim Mantoani

by A Photo Editor on July 16, 2010 · 12 comments


{ 12 comments }

1 jason grow July 16, 2010 at 10:51 am

It reminds me of another saying I’ve heard — If you buy a violin, you own a violin… if you buy a camera you’re a photographer…. I much prefer Tim’s version.

2 lynn donaldson July 16, 2010 at 11:08 am

A videographer friend asked if I was worried, with the proliferation of digital cameras, about amateurs snagging assignments. Not to compare myself to Picasso, but I asked her if she thought Picasso was nervous that other people had paintbrushes.

3 c.d.embrey July 17, 2010 at 12:30 am

@lynn donaldson, Your videographer friend has nothing to fear from the 5D film-makers. They all think they will be the next Steven Spielberg but most don’t have the talent of Edward D. Wood Jr (Plan 9 from Outer Space).

4 lynn donaldson July 20, 2010 at 1:11 pm

@c.d.embrey, you nailed it!

5 Tom July 16, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Very interesting piece. I have to say I groaned when I looked at the runtime (8o-some minutes) but I wound up listening to the whole thing.

6 Silver July 17, 2010 at 1:46 pm

How many of you know multiple photographers who think their fancy new 5d means they are video guys now too?

Usually the same guys who bitch about being undercut by amateur dlsr users, in my experience. The lack of self awareness is staggering.

7 Shane July 17, 2010 at 6:03 pm

@Silver, I don’t think it’s self awareness issues but rather every blog, consultant and client now insisting that video is the future and demanding we learn it or get past over.

8 Mike Shipman July 18, 2010 at 5:33 pm

I’ve seen that Avedon quote at the start attributed to Robert Mapplethorpe, which attribution is correct?

9 Huy July 18, 2010 at 10:35 pm

Great interview. Thank you for doing it, and sharing it.

Sincerely,
Huy

10 Eliza Gregory July 20, 2010 at 6:37 am

Reminds me of a great Shaw quotation I saw on a photo label at the National Gallery Victoria, “[Mr Evans] is a gentleman who has dedicated himself to an art which is disparaged by those who believe that when a lens is in a box it is mechanical, but not when it is in a man’s head.”

11 Garrett Grove July 20, 2010 at 10:04 am

Such a great interview, thanks for pointing this out Rob. Very rare that I will sit and listen to something for 90 minutes straight. Just goes to show how quality Tim is and how much good insight and knowledge was given throughout the course of the interview.

12 Canaan Albright August 10, 2010 at 11:45 am

Insightful, and a little emotional. Took two days to watch, and well worth savoring.

Canaan

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