You have to bring to the photograph a prejudice about something, and I'm prejudiced against farmers who tie dead animals on fences. Therefore, I can make a meaningful photograph.

Ansel [Adams] always jumped over the fence to photograph, walked past the garbage. He always looked to get an immaculate view, and I spent my life stepping back to include the garbage in my photographic view.

So many people are diverted to doing what people want photographed - fashion models, buildings, mountains - they get to thinking those photographs are good.

You have to bring to the photograph a prejudice about something, and I'm prejudiced against farmers who tie dead animals on fences. Therefore, I can make a meaningful photograph.

You know, you have to be an optimist, a pessimist, sarcastic and pleasant all at the same time to be a photographer.

I never think of myself as an artist. I think of myself as making a point.

Edward [Weston] was the first artist - and I don't use the word lightly - to make a living doing art photography. Other photographers did commercial work, or worked for the government.