Top 4 Quotes & Sayings by James Van Der Zee

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American photographer James Van Der Zee.

Last updated on December 19, 2024.

James Augustus Van Der Zee was an American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period. Among his most famous subjects during this time were Marcus Garvey, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Countee Cullen.

American - Photographer | June 29, 1886 - May 15, 1983

Source: Wikipedia

Being an artist, I had an artist's instincts.You can see the picture before it's taken; then it's up to you to get the camera to see

James Van Der Zee

It's a hard job to get the camera to see it like you see it. Sometimes you have it just the way you want it, and then you look in the camera and you don't have the balance. The main thing is to get the camera to see it the way you see it.

James Van Der Zee

I tried to see that every picture was better-looking than the person.

James Van Der Zee

Somebody would come in and say, I never take a good picture. I'd say, Why not? You've got two eyes, a nose, and a mouth like everybody else.

James Van Der Zee