Dorothea Lange - The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.
Welcome to The Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for June 15th.
It’s Nature Photography Day—a perfect excuse to stare at trees, clouds, and critters a little longer than usual without anyone questioning your productivity. Today we celebrate those quiet moments when nature poses—just for you—and someone with a camera is wise enough to press the shutter. In the spirit of this day, here’s a quote that pairs perfectly with a walk through the woods or a long gaze at the horizon. It’s from Dorothea Lange, a pioneering American photographer, who once said:
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."
Think about that. It’s not just about what you capture through a lens—it’s about how that lens trains your mind to notice what’s always been there. The details. The patterns. The colors of a sunset that don’t show up in your calendar but still happen every night. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to learn how to really see. Today’s a good day to slow down, take in the light filtering through the trees, the glint off a puddle, or the way a bird seems to know it’s being admired.
Nature has its own rhythm. And photography, whether with a camera or just your attention, invites you into that rhythm. So go ahead—see the world a little differently today. Zoom in on something beautiful. Crop out the noise. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll catch something truly worth keeping. Remember: you don’t need a camera to appreciate the view—you just need to look.
That is it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now but... I'll be back tomorrow. Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.