When Araki says 'photographer,' he's talking about someone who uses the camera as their paintbrush—not just someone who knows the right levers and buttons to push. Keep in mind that Araki himself studied photography at Chiba University and spent years in advertising before diving headfirst into the murky photo art scene in 1960s Japan. So, when he makes a big, sweeping statement like this, maybe sprinkle it with a bit of skepticism—oh, about the size of Mt. Fuji.