Seven Quotes from MacArthur Fellows on World Photography Day

Today is World Photography Day, so we’re highlighting a few MacArthur Fellows who have produced creative and distinctive work in the world of photography.

Here are some quotes from them about how they see their craft, what motivates their work, and more. You can browse all 1000+ MacArthur Fellows on our website. You can also test your knowledge of the MacArthur Fellows by taking our Fellows Quiz.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

“I’m trying to get to the heart of a story, and it’s often in war zones. But I’m also looking for beauty, which confuses people. But in my experience, a tough image turns people away, and I want to do the opposite.”–Lynsey Addario

“We all expect photographs to be pictures of something. We assume that the photographer observed a place, a person, an event in the world and wanted to record it…The problem with my work is that these images are really not of anything in that sense, they register only that which is incidental.”–Uta Barth

“It begins with the subject, a deep interest in wanting to describe the black subject in a way that’s as complex as the experiences of anyone else. It’s to kind of reshape the world one person at a time.”–Dawoud Bey

“By the end of my life’s work, I hope to have created an archive that shows just how diverse the working class is and who the workers are…it’s not just synonymous with whiteness.”–LaToya Ruby Frazier

“I think once I became an artist, I felt I had a voice, so I’m not so anonymous. But I used to feel that way, and I think many Vietnamese feel that way. And I think we were taught to not stand out.”–An-My Lê

“I’ve never felt comfortable with the realm of photojournalism…I’m not very comfortable with insinuating myself into a situation, and I very much know the moment when it’s appropriate to photograph and other moments when, at least for me personally, it’s not appropriate to make an image.”–Fazal Sheikh

“I am an artist first and foremost. How to work with that, how to use that, is really important. How do you employ elements of beauty and lyricism and gentleness to bring an audience to a difficult subject?”–Carrie Mae Weems