I realize that I had the best of serious picture journalism.

If a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given. It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.

What I have tried to do is involve the people I was photographing... if they were willing to give, I was willing to photograph.

It doesn’t matter if you use a box camera or a Leica, the important thing is what motivates you when you are photographing. What I have tried to do is involve the people I was photographing. To have them realize without saying so, that it was up to them to give me whatever they wanted to give me . . . if they were willing to give, I was willing to photograph.

Themes recur again and again in my work.

I found a way of working which pleased me because I didn’t have to frighten people with heavy equipment. It was that little black box and me.

If you are careful with people, they will offer you part of themselves. That is the big secret.