I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative artist who often is necessarily at poetic odds with the literal facts.

Many claim I am a photographer of tragedy. In the greater sense I am not, for though I often photograph where the tragic emotion is present, the result is almost invariably affirmative.

What use having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling?

An artist must be ruthlessly selfish.

I've never made any picture, good or bad, without paying for it in emotional turmoil.

Passion is in all great searches and is necessary to all creative endeavors.

The photographer must bear the responsibility for his work and its effect …[for] photographic journalism, because of its tremendous audience reached by publications using it, has more influence on public thinking than any other branch of photography.