What I believe is really good in the so-called documentary approach to photography is the addition of lyricism.[this quality] is usually produced unconsciously and even unintentionally and accidentally by the cameraman.

The secret of photography is, the camera takes on the character and personality of the handler.

That’s my idea of what a portrait ought to be, anonymous and documentary and a straightforward picture of mankind.

I think there is a period of esthetic discovery that happens to a man and he can do all sorts of things at white heat.

I never took it upon myself to change the world. And those contemporaries of mine who were going around falling for the idea that they were going to bring down the United States government and make a new world were just asses to me.

Color tends to corrupt photography and absolute color corrupts it absolutely. Consider the way color film usually renders blue sky, green foliage, lipstick red, and the kiddies' playsuit. These are four simple words which must be whispered: color photography is vulgar.

The eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.