That said—too briefly—my argument against the set-up picture is that it leaves the matter of content to the IMAGINATION of the photographer, a faculty that, in my experience, is generally deficient compared to the mad swirling possibilities that our dear common world kicks up at us on a regular basis. That’s all.

A Photo Student › Alec Soth Interviews Tod Papageorge

I’m almost positive I’ve read and blogged about this interview before, but years ago and in another venue entirely. And in any case, this passage bears repeating, because it gets right to the heart of what riles me up about the overuse of the terms “creativity” and “creative” in regard to photography.

However, also bear in mind that Papageorge is not arguing for a photograph as document. He says just before the previously quoted passage:

Don’t speak to me of the document; I don’t really believe in it, particularly now. A picture’s not the world, but a new thing.