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Henry Peach Robinson Quotes

It must be confessed that it takes considerable skill to produce the best kind of lies. It is in the hands of first-class photographers only - and perhaps the indifferent ones - that photography can lie.

It must be confessed that it takes considerable skill to produce the best kind of lies. It is in the hands of first-class photographers only - and perhaps the indifferent ones - that photography can lie.

Henry Peach Robinson
Photography, Lying, Hands

A work of art is a work of order, and if the artist is to put the stamp of his own mind on his work, he must arrange, modify, and dispose of his materials so that they may appear in a more agreeable and beautiful manner than they would have assumed without his interference.

Henry Peach Robinson
Beautiful, Art, Order

The aim and end of the artist is not truth exactly, much less fact; it is effect... There is no doubt he [the photographer] best gets his effect by way of truth, but he uses it as he would a servant, not a master.

Henry Peach Robinson
Artist, Doubt, Use
Henry Peach Robinson (1896). “The Elements of a Pictorial Photograph”

After some time passed in studying - and even imitating - the works of others, I would recommend the student to endeavour to be original, and to remember that originality should not be undiscovered plagiarism.

Henry Peach Robinson
Creativity, Students, Originality

No departure from the truth of nature shall be discovered by the closest scrutiny.

Henry Peach Robinson
Departure, Scrutiny, Closest
Henry Peach Robinson (1869). “Pictorial Effect in Photography: Being Hints on Composition and Chiaro-oscuro for Photographers. To which is Added a Chapter on Combination Printing”, p.198

... any dodge, or trick, or conjuration of any kind is open to the photographer's use so that it belongs to his art and is not false to nature. If the dodges, tricks, etc., lead the photographer astray, so much the worse for him; if they do not assist him to represent nature, he is not fit to use them. It is not the fault of the dodges, it is the fault of the bungler.

Henry Peach Robinson
Art, Use, Etc

It is only by loving nature, and going to her for everything, that good work can be done; but then we must look to her for the materials for pictures, not for pictures themselves. It is nature filtered through the mind and fingers of the artist that produces art, and the quality of the pictures depends on the fineness of that filter.

Henry Peach Robinson
Art, Loving Nature, Mind

It was soon evident in my lodgings that I had become a dangerous lunatic, and there would be nothing left to destroy if strong measures were not taken. So I was turned out of the house, but it was only into the garden, where I was allowed to build a small darkroom of oilcloth.

Henry Peach Robinson
Strong, Taken, Garden

Look may be that everything is right, it is always best to have an inspection before marching. To forget a screw, if you have a loose one, and only discover your loss when you are miles from home and the view before you is "perfect", is to promote, possibly suicide, certainly profanity.

Henry Peach Robinson
Suicide, Home, Loss
Henry Peach Robinson (2010). “Letters on Landscape Photography”, p.30, Hol Art Books

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