Nan Goldin
[Photographer, b. 1953, Washington, D.C., lives in New York and Paris.]
For me it is not a detachment to take a picture. It’s a way of touching somebody—it’s a caress.... I think that you can actually give people access to their own soul.
When you set up pictures you’re not at any risk. Reality involves chance and risk and diving for pearls.
I used to think I couldn’t lose anyone if I photographed them enough.
If I want to take a picture, I take it no matter what.
Where is the line between life and photographing life?
I don’t even like photography at all. I’m just doing photography until I can do something better.
Every time I go through something scary, traumatic, I survive by taking pictures.
I am not a voyeur, as voyeurs photograph through closed windows and with me the window is always wide open.
