“As Spectator I was interested in Photography only for “sentimental” reasons; I wanted to explore it not as a question (a theme) but as a wound: I see, I feel, hence I notice, I observe, and I think” (Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982)(Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 13 – 13)

“Four image-repertoires intersect here, oppose and distort each other. in front of the lens, I am at the same time: the one I think I am, the one I want others to think I am, the one the photographer thinks I am, and the one he makes use of to exhibit his art. In other words, a strange action@ I do not stop imitating myself, and because of this, each time I am (or let myself be) photographed, I invariably suffer from a sensation of inauthenticity, sometimes of imposture (comparable to certain nightmares).” (Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 13 – 13)
(Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 75 – 75)
“It is said that mourning, by its gradual labor, slowly erases pain; I could not , I cannot believe this; because for me, Time eliminates the emotion of loss ( I do not weep), that is all. For the rest, everything has reamined motionless. For what I have lost is not a Figure (the Mother), but a being’ and not a being, but a quality (a soul): not the indispensable, but the irreplaceable. I could live without the Mother (as we all do, sooner or later); but what life remained would be absolutely and entirely unqualifiable (withouth quality).” (Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 75 – 75)
(Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 20 – 20)
“In this glum desert, suddenly a specific photograph reaches me; it animates me, and I animate it. So that is how I must name the attraction which makes it exist: an animation. The photograph itself is in no way animated (I do not believe in “lifelike” photographs), but it animates me: this is what creates every adventure” (Barthes, Barthes, and Howard, 1982, pp. 20 – 20)

Bibliography

Barthes, R., Barthes, P.R. and Howard, R. (1982) Camera lucida: Reflections on photography. New York: Hill and Wang