Is photography art?

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Comment by Lance Dooley on September 11, 2009 at 2:11pm

The more "machinery" and non human elements which are used in a process, the less art there will be.
However, some photographs carry an aura about them that is above and beyond the peers.
Not all photography is art, but some definitely is. Reciprocally, not all paintings/drawings/sculpture are art, but some definitely are.

Comment by david eubank on May 7, 2009 at 1:17am

Check out the Camera Lucinda
http://www.cameralucida.org.uk/

Also see David Hockney on the Camera Lucinda
http://painting.about.com/od/oldmastertechniques/ss/camera_lucida_4.htm

Comment by Tamara Wyndham on May 6, 2009 at 11:49pm

"I'm not trying to make paintings look like photos. I want to make paintings using photos as a reference, the way painters did when photography was first invented."
- Peter Doig

Comment by Tamara Wyndham on May 1, 2009 at 3:55am

I admire the painter Chuck Close, who uses photography.

Comment by Norman Dilley on April 30, 2009 at 9:34pm

Hey I'm outa' here

Comment by david eubank on April 30, 2009 at 9:31pm

Photography vs. other mediums, what does it matter? I can say that not all photographs are art and I can say that not all paintings are art either. But some photographs are art as are some paintings. Photography is a medium as is paint. Not all bronze castings are sculpture some are plumbing parts and some plumbing parts are art when assembled with directed intention. The photographer “artist” make a thousands decisions when he or she takes the picture. This happens in a moment but it happens none the less. The evaluation of the subject the focus of a series of subjects these are all decisions the artist makes regardless of medium or technique. To argue for instance that computer generated art or digital photography is not art is equally without merit. The computer is a new medium and digital prints are too. Pixels or paper that is a preference based on need and intent, it is about presentation and physical necessity. Art is about ideas and vision and can be interpreted through many mediums. The written word can create images conceptualized by the readers mind. Some writers create far better visual landscapes threw description than painters do through the use of a brush and paint. Visual medium stimulates the visual cortex that in turn stimulates the mind of the viewer. The mind cares not what the stimulus is, that is a bias of viewer. How does the actor stimulate a response of happiness, sorrow what have you from the audience. Why does the audience cry during sad scenes in the movie? The craft of the actor, the medium stimulates the response through intent, directed purpose as the does the photographer or the painter. The technical skills of the painter vs. the photographer is different because of the medium. The artistic creativity comes from the same source. The debate is really a very skinny dead horse.

Comment by Norman Dilley on April 30, 2009 at 4:56pm

Hooray - I knew you were a believer

Comment by Julie Routley ARPS on April 30, 2009 at 4:50pm

Hi group sorry haven't commented recently!
My opinion, which is purely subjective is that yes photography can be art, it takes time, years of practice and vision to create a piece of photogrpahy worthy of the title art. But really what is art if not a personal viewpoint and expression of the world. Does it really matter if the medium used was a camera or a paint brush? Art comes from the soul and is purely down to interpretation. One man's cake is another man's poison. I use my own paintings and camera to produce my pallette of colours to work from, my canvas is my computer. In my mind anything created by a human soul with the intent of self expression is art :)

Comment by Tamara Wyndham on April 26, 2009 at 1:34pm

Slideshow here:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/04/26/arts/20090426-kenn-ss_8.html

Comment by Tamara Wyndham on April 26, 2009 at 1:19pm

photographer Danny Lyon

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/arts/design/26kenn.html?th&emc=th

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