We all know that Art is not truth.
Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given us to understand.
The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.
Pablo Picasso
Cognitive scientists have known for many years that human memory is not veridical. Our memories are not records of what we've experienced in the past, but rather they are constructive combinations of those experiences with what our mind has made of our past and perhaps most importantly our goal state for the present moment. Memory is intrinsically creative.
The work of the cinematographer is to shape the attention of the viewer with the mind of the director. Filmmaking, after all, is not theater where the viewer is in control of how they experience the moment, rather its a lens made from the mind of another.
In my practice, making art with a camera is somewhere between these two. Not as explicit as the action of the cinematographer, but certainly not just about capturing "the perfect moment" in some disembodied, automatic sense. My unique mind, after all, is what has brought me to this moment of possibility. It has motivated my feet to the place where I stand and directed my vision towards light and color and form. It raises my arm to my eye in possibility, but most of all it gives that image concept, frequently imbued with emotion. My mind makes my heart beat faster and brings a tear to my focusing eye when I realize what a gift it all is and my shutter pulses in response.
On a good day it's a lie that tells the truth, and on the other days it's just the way I experience the world.