Irving Penn Quotes

Irving Penn — American Photographer born on June 16, 1917, died on October 07, 2009

Irving Penn was an American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. Penn's career included work at Vogue magazine, and independent advertising work for clients including Issey Miyake and Clinique. His work has been exhibited internationally and continues to inform the art of photography... (wikipedia)

Many photographers feel their client is the subject. My client is a woman in Kansas who reads Vogue. I'm trying to intrigue, stimulate, feed her. My responsibility is to the reader. The severe portrait that is not the greatest joy in the world to the subject may be enormously interesting to the reader.

Sensitive people faced with the prospect of a camera portrait put on a face they think is the one they would like to show to the world... Every so often what lies behind the facade is rare and more wonderful than the subject knows or dares to believe.

I am a professional photographer because it is the best way I know to earn the money I require to take care of my wife and children.

Photographing a cake can be art.

I have always stood in awe of the camera. I recognize it for the instrument it is, part Stradivarius, part scalpel.