Rather than taking photos.
Heard this phrase recently and I've been trying to map some meaning to it -- here's my take.
Own your perspective. It reinforces the idea that photography as an art form is not about following trends or about the gear you have, but rather it's about how you see. We can never truly see things as they are -- we see things as we are.
People can look at the same thing but derive different meanings.
This is why photography is a medium for self-expression. The eye is the most important and it seems this idea is not emphasized enough. However, “the eye” isn’t just going to exist out of nowhere - it stems from a desire to notice.
It's helpful to collect information and consume the work of others but it's the responsibility of the individual to get their hands dirty and also fail their fair share.