The Wisdom of Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Iconic Quotes on Photography
Mary Ellen Mark, a legendary documentary photographer, spent decades capturing some of the most profound and intimate images of human life. Her work reflects deep empathy and emotional resonance, and her thoughts on photography continue to inspire generations of photographers. Below are 25 of her most insightful quotes, offering wisdom on color, composition, connection with subjects, and the artistry behind the lens.
1. The Challenge of Color
“The difficulty with color is to go beyond the fact that it’s color – to have it be not just a colorful picture but really be a picture about something. It’s difficult. So often color gets caught up in color, and it becomes merely decorative.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
2. Honesty in Photography
“I just think it’s important to be direct and honest with people about why you’re photographing them and what you’re doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul, and I think you have to be clear about that.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
3. The Core of Humanity
“[When photographing, I want to reach and touch] something that I feel is at the core of people.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
4. Photography as a Voice for the Unseen
“I like feeling that I’m able to be a voice for those people who aren’t famous, the people that don’t have the great opportunities.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
5. The Photographer’s Point of View
“I think each photographer has a point of view and a way of looking at the world… what’s interesting is letting people tell you about themselves in the picture.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
6. Symbolism in Everyday Life
“What you look for is a symbol of something in everyone’s life.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: 25 Years
7. Learning Through Formats
“Learning how to use different formats has made me a better photographer. When I started working in medium format, it made me a better 35mm photographer.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, American Photo, September/October 1998
8. Background and Subject Harmony
“If the background doesn’t work together with your main subject, you won’t have a good picture.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, American Photo, September/October 1998
9. The Constant Challenge
“There is only one reason I’ve stayed a photographer for so many years. Photography is always challenging.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, American Photo, September/October 1998
10. The Selective Eye
“By making a frame you’re being selective, then you edit the pictures you want published and you’re being selective again. You develop a point of view that you want to express.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
11. Photograph the Real World
“Photograph the world as it is. Nothing’s more interesting than reality.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
12. The Mystery of a Great Image
“Sometimes a photograph works because of its subtlety or what is excluded from the frame. For me, a great image involves a combination of strong content and excellent design.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure
13. Leaving a Part of Yourself Behind
“In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
14. A Personal Way of Seeing
“I don’t think you can develop or learn a ‘way of seeing.’ It’s something that is inside of you. It’s how you look at the world.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
15. Fear of Failure
“I go into every story thinking I’m going to fail. Every story is like the first I’ve ever done.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
16. Discipline of the Frame
“I don’t crop my photographs. I consider the entire frame while I’m shooting.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
17. The Urge to Experience
“I would die if I had to be confined. I don’t want to feel that I’m missing out on experiencing as much as I can.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
18. Honest Compassion, Not Pity
“What I look for is compassion, not pity.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
19. Photography as Fine Art
“If you do great pictures, it is fine art, no matter what. The work should be great, and that is all that is important.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Photo-Wisdom
20. The Enigma of Photographs
“Photographs can be enigmatic. They sometimes work because of what is included in the frame; and sometimes because of what is not.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Photo-Wisdom
21. Photography as a Way to Convey Ideas
“I think photography is closest to writing, not painting. The image shouldn’t need a caption; it should already convey an idea.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
22. The Versatility of Street Photography
“If you can shoot on the street you can shoot anything.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
23. Reality is Extraordinary
“There’s nothing more extraordinary than reality.”
— Mary Ellen Mark
24. The Timeless Beauty of Film
“I shoot film and I will continue to shoot film. It is more beautiful… I am not an illustrator; a lot of the digital, Photoshopped photography is what I would call illustration, not photography.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Photo-Wisdom
25. The Photographer’s Philosophy
“Photographers must have a point of view – must have something to say. Without a philosophy, a photographer is simply a technician who clicks the camera.”
— Mary Ellen Mark, Photo-Wisdom
These quotes not only reflect Mary Ellen Mark’s incredible skill behind the camera but also reveal her deep philosophical approach to the art of photography. Her work remains a powerful reminder that photography is not just about capturing an image, but about telling a story, conveying emotion, and seeing the world with a unique perspective. Let her wisdom inspire your own photographic journey.
FAQs on Mary Ellen Mark’s Photography Philosophy
1. What does Mary Ellen Mark mean by “photographing reality”?
- Mary Ellen Mark emphasizes capturing the world as it is, without staging or manipulating scenes. She believed that the authenticity of the moment and the rawness of reality are what make photographs compelling and profound.
2. Why does Mary Ellen Mark believe color photography can be challenging?
- According to Mark, color can often be distracting and purely decorative if not used purposefully. She stressed that color photography should be about more than just color; it should convey a deeper story or message.
3. What is the significance of being “honest” when photographing people?
- Mark believed that when you photograph someone, you are, in a sense, capturing part of their soul. She felt it was essential to be transparent and respectful with your subjects, ensuring they understand your intentions to build trust and authenticity.
4. Why did Mary Ellen Mark prefer not to crop her photographs?
- Mark valued the discipline of composing the entire frame during shooting. She believed that cropping in post-production took away from the integrity of the original composition and her intention behind capturing the image.
5. What did Mary Ellen Mark mean by “photographers must have a point of view”?
- Mark believed that every photographer should have a personal philosophy and perspective. Photography is not just a technical exercise; it’s about expressing a unique viewpoint or emotional message through the images you capture. Without this, she felt a photographer becomes merely a technician.
