It (taking photographs) is all about longingwithout longing-no pictures at all.

There is not a big difference between life and taking pictures... You're in the middle of life, you're living, making love, eating, sleeping - and photography is part of it. And I don't say this because I'm being romantic. I say this because that's just the way it happens to be.

In black and white there are more colors than color photography, because you are not blocked by any colors so you can use your experiences, your knowledge, and your fantasy, to put colors into black and white.

I can’t describe reality; at the most, I can try to capture things that seem to be valid, the way I see them.

To me, it’s encounters that matter, pictures are much less important.

The people at the Café Lehmitz had a presence and a sincerity that I myself lacked. It was okay to be desperate, to be tender, to sit all alone or share the company of others. There was a great warmth and tolerance in this destitute setting.

I don't care so much about form. Perhaps I did in the beginning, a long time ago. But now I just want to be as straight and simple and as true as possible.