David Burnett in front of the big screen
Photograph by James Kegley

David Burnett:

Photography is a ticket to see things--that's part of the rush.

[Of going to Vietnam in 1970.] That's when I first swallowed the skepticism Kool-Aid, and it's influenced my dealings with officials ever since.

[On how perceptions and visual styles evolve.] Don't throw away your negatives, you never know when something will get better than it was.

[Upon hearing the photographer next to him clicking away as he's trying to focus his large-format camera.] Don't be greedy, just get one that's good.

I see some of my students walking in loaded down with equipment. But when I ask them to send me pictures, very few do. It's groovy to have all these cameras, but it doesn't mean anything unless you actually shoot pictures.

The jury's still out on whether the non-film generation will be the most visually literate in history, or whether they will have holes in their visual understanding. One thing they're missing is that stomach-wrenching doubt which was such a strong influence on us. They should just try shooting film again, see what that feels like.

After 40 years, I've found a new way to shoot. Large format has been a rejuvenation for me. Different cameras let you see things in a different way.

Make your own life your first assignment. It's easy to go somewhere exotic, but to stay here you have to reach much deeper into yourself.

A woman once introduced me as "the guy who walks into a room and disappears," which I thought was the coolest intro. There are guys who grab a story by the lapels and dance it around the room, but we're not them. [Looking at Eugene.]