Ansel Adams quote

[StephenM]

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.
There is nothing worse that a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept.

I've seen both. Does anyone know
a) which is correct (or are they both variants he used?) and
b) the source?

 

[simonblue]

I think its the top one,but not sure of the source

 

[StephenM]

The top one certainly is more "polished", and it's the one I know. I have the feeling that I actually read it in one of his books, but can't recall where. It's also possible that he used both forms... One of the citations for the second version was Popular Photography, and I know that AA did write articles for them.

I'm finding it annoying to not recall where I read it.

 

[simonblue]

Doing an quick Google search,the top one come up,but cant find the 2nd one

 

[chris malcolm]

"It's often hard to distinguish between a vague expression of a precise idea and a precise expression of a vague idea."

Wish I could remember who said that!

 

[StephenM]

Doing an quick Google search,the top one come up,but cant find the 2nd one

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/there_is_nothing_worse_than_a_brilliant_image_of/221310.html

or here and several other places (including this forum, which is what triggered my interest!).

 

[Steve Smith]

I have only ever seen the first one. The second one might be someone misquoting him. i.e. stating what they thought he said rather than actually said.

The most common misquoting of Adams is people saying he used the term 'pre-visualisation' First of all, this is a nonsense term as visualisation is pre by definition. Most importantly, Adams was an educated person who knew this and only used the term 'visualisation' (although being American he spelled it with a z).


Steve.

 

[Pookeyhead]

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.
There is nothing worse that a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept.

I've seen both. Does anyone know
a) which is correct (or are they both variants he used?) and
b) the source?

The sentiment's the same either way ... except in reality... you'd not have a BRILLIANT image born from a fuzzy concept.

It's the first one BTW as I recall.... but I have less than perfect recall for such things these days, so I may be wrong.. I think we can agree they both amount to the same thing.


[edit]

Someone has linked to the quote... so I was wrong