Ansel Adams

“The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance.”

“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment.”

“Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.”

“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.”

“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.”

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

“Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing the tonal relationships.”

“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.”

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”

“To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, 'There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.'”

“A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”

“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.”

“You don't take a photograph, you make it.”