There's always been a separation between fashion and what I call my 'deeper' work. Fashion is where I make my living. I'm not knocking it. It's a pleasure to make a living that way. It's pleasure and then there's the deeper pleasure of doing my portraits. It's not important what I consider myself to be, but I consider myself to be a portrait photographer.
Richard AvedonPeople โ running from unhappiness, hiding in power โ are locked within their reputations, ambitions, beliefs.
Richard AvedonCamera lies all the time. Itโs all it does is lie, because when you choose this moment instead of this moment, when youโฆ the moment youโve made a choice, youโre lying about something larger. Lying is an ugly word. I donโt mean lying. But any artist picks and chooses what they want to paint or write about or say. Photographers are the same.
Richard AvedonThere was no such person as Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe was an invention of hers. A genius invention that she created, like an author creates a character. She understood photography, and she also understood what makes a great photograph. She related to it as if she were giving a performance. She gave more to the still camera than any actress-any woman- I've ever photographed.
Richard AvedonThere's always been a separation between fashion and what I call my 'deeper' work. Fashion is where I make my living. I'm not knocking it. It's a pleasure to make a living that way. It's pleasure and then there's the deeper pleasure of doing my portraits. It's not important what I consider myself to be, but I consider myself to be a portrait photographer.
Richard Avedon