“Through the window, I noticed the room was empty.
I didn’t look for anyone.
I made this image, and then I left.”
— Raymond Depardon
“When it comes to intimate photographs, I become wary of their deceitful character. A good photographer can make a so-called ‘intimate’ portrait or scene of people he or she has absolutely no personal or emotional connection with. Rather, the idea of intimacy finds itself in the projection of the viewers’ own emotions triggered by subtle recognisable details, gestures, glances, actions and poses all brought together in an aesthetically-coherent, emotionally-charged photograph.
The image Yoyo seems to portray a transgender teenager who has just woken up from her sleep, with a roommate still dreaming by her feet. She is nude and photographed from a distance, with strong yet delicate artificial lighting, just as she rubs her eyes. A meticulously choreographed scene of a supposed intimate moment, yet rationally constructed according to specific visual criteria.
Perhaps the intimacy in my work finds itself outside of the frame, in the relationship with people before and after a scene is photographed. The mutual consent to being part of a still, momentary connection mediated by the camera.” — Max Pinckers
“I took the picture in the fall of 1983, at sunset at the old docks in New Jersey with a view towards the World Trade towers in New York City. I had heard that there was a traditional Lovers’ Lane, a meeting place of young people in their cars, bringing booze and sometimes drugs. The sun was setting and the towers across the river were glowing before it became too dark to take more pictures.” — Thomas Hoepker
“Beyond the fundamental hypocrisy of photographic production that feeds on human misery with the pretence of disseminating information or raising awareness, the proliferation of compassionate iconography neutralizes discernment, tames brutal instincts, and induces the risk of safe intimacy and deceit under the autocratic reign of appearance.” — Antoine d’Agata
“L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.” — Dante Alighieri, La Divina Comedia
“Luna, my daughter, photographed in New York City, 2010.” — Paolo Pellegrin
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