The Vision of Anders Petersen: 10 Iconic Quotes on Photography
Anders Petersen, a Swedish photographer renowned for his raw and intimate black-and-white imagery, has a unique way of seeing and interpreting the world through his lens. His work often focuses on the emotional, psychological, and personal aspects of his subjects. Petersen’s photography is not about perfection but about honesty, connection, and the human experience. Below are 10 of his most profound quotes that reveal his philosophy and approach to photography.
1. The Colors in Black and White
“In black and white, there are more colours than colour photography… you can use your experiences, your knowledge and your fantasy, to… put in your own colours.”
— Anders Petersen
For Petersen, black-and-white photography is a canvas for emotional expression. By stripping away literal color, it allows the viewer to fill in emotional hues using their imagination, memories, and personal experiences.
2. The Illusion of Reality
“I don’t believe in reality really, it’s a bluff. But I believe in a kind of reality that exists because of all the longing, dreams, secrets, nightmares, mostly longings.”
— Anders Petersen
Petersen doesn’t believe in objective reality but rather in the deeply personal experiences that shape how we see the world. His images often evoke feelings of longing, fear, and desire, capturing an emotional reality that transcends the physical world.
3. Truth Over Form
“I don’t care so much about form. Perhaps I did in the beginning, a long time ago. But now I just want to be as straight and simple and as true as possible.”
— Anders Petersen
Early in his career, Petersen may have cared about formal aesthetics, but now, his focus is on authenticity. He strives to create work that is direct, honest, and emotionally resonant, valuing truth over technical perfection.
4. Be Wary of Nicely Formulated Principles
“Be wary of: nicely formulated principles and truths. Useless feelings of guilt and sins of the past or while we’re at it a photograph resembling pretty adjectives. On the other hand, I like private diaries and family albums.”
— Anders Petersen
Petersen warns against getting trapped by the superficial or overly polished. Instead, he appreciates the raw, imperfect, and deeply personal qualities of diaries and family albums—where authenticity often prevails over aesthetics.
5. Encounters Are What Matter
“To me, it’s encounters that matter, pictures are much less important.”
— Anders Petersen
Photography, for Petersen, is secondary to the human encounters it enables. It’s the interaction with people—the stories, connections, and moments—that matter more than the final image.
6. Photography and Life Are Intertwined
“There is not a big difference between life and taking pictures… You’re in the middle of life, you’re living, making love, eating, sleeping—and photography is part of it.”
— Anders Petersen
For Petersen, photography is not an isolated act. It’s woven into the very fabric of daily life, where the camera becomes an extension of living and experiencing the world.
7. The Camera as a Tool for Curiosity
“For me, the camera is like an entrance to the private lives of other people. And if you are curious like me, it is a fantastic tool.”
— Anders Petersen
Petersen views the camera as a key to unlock human stories. His natural curiosity drives him to delve into the private lives of his subjects, revealing intimate, often unseen moments.
8. Cutting and Peeling Away Layers
“Cutting is a good way to describe [my way of shooting]. I cut … that’s what it feels like, because it’s so fast. Then I peel away layers.”
— Anders Petersen
Petersen likens his photography process to cutting, as his shots are quick and instinctive. But afterward, he peels back layers to find the deeper truth within the image.
9. A Photographer and a Human Being
“You have to focus on what you are doing, not just as a photographer, but as a human being.”
— Anders Petersen
To create meaningful work, Petersen emphasizes the importance of being present, not just as a photographer but as a human being. Personal experiences and emotions deeply influence the way a photographer captures and interprets moments.
10. The Allure of the Moment
“That 15th of a second. Once you’ve been there, you keep on wanting to get back.”
— Anders Petersen
Petersen highlights the addictive nature of photography—the fleeting moment, often lasting only a fraction of a second, that can draw a photographer back time and again in search of something elusive and profound.
FAQs: Anders Petersen’s Style, Philosophy, and Approach to Photography
1. What is Anders Petersen’s photography style?
Petersen’s style is raw, emotional, and intimate, focusing on black-and-white imagery. He often captures candid moments, revealing the personal and private aspects of his subjects’ lives, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
2. Why does Anders Petersen prefer black-and-white photography?
Petersen believes that black-and-white photography allows more emotional depth. It frees the viewer from literal colors, encouraging them to use their imagination and past experiences to fill in the emotional blanks.
3. How does Anders Petersen view reality in photography?
Petersen doesn’t believe in a fixed or objective reality. Instead, he sees reality as something fluid, shaped by longing, dreams, and personal fears. His photography reflects this subjective view of the world.
4. What role does curiosity play in Petersen’s work?
Curiosity is central to Petersen’s photography. He uses his camera as a tool to explore the private lives of others, driven by a desire to understand and capture human experiences.
5. How does Anders Petersen balance life and photography?
For Petersen, photography is inseparable from life. It’s part of the daily experience—capturing moments of love, struggle, joy, and pain as they happen, without separating the photographer from the act of living.
Anders Petersen’s photography is a testament to the power of raw emotion, honesty, and human connection. His images are not about technical perfection but about the stories, feelings, and lives they reveal.
