There is an interesting discussion going on in the Radiant Vista forums about critiques and the art vs. craft of photography. I am sure similar discussions have taken place a thousand times over, and probably over centuries. Not that I want to regurgitate any of the discussion here, but it does make me think about defining when you cross that line back and forth. Such discussions are great for hearing other’s opinions and thoughts on the matter, but they don’t ever really come to some sort of final ‘resolution.’ They do give those that follow such threads some things to think about as it applies to their own work.
Is there really any line at all? Do you see every image you make as some form of personal expression? How do images that you consider ‘art’ differ from the rest? I suppose someone could take a picture of a penny on a sidewalk and come up with an eloquent rationale for it. And we have all seen images like this – that are so personal to the creator that they are somewhat unaccessible to other viewers. And then, perhaps one image you consider more craft might be considered more art by a viewer?
If someone was standing right next to you to make a photograph, and had the same knowledge about the technical, same equipment,etc, etc – would they make the same image? Would that image then be considered more craft vs. art if they were the same? What is it about a particular image that has your personal touch on it? Is it your particular composition, technique or post-processing? Does it then all of the sudden become a work of art? I know I probably have some images on this site that no one else in the world has, but does that make them a form of personal expression? Some I think yes, others I wonder. With that rationale, the same could be said for images of your cat or dog, no one else in the world has them. Are those art?
All are questions that intrigue me, I wish I had some answers..
I feel the same as you guys – they all end up being rhetorical questions and I will probably leave it up to others to put a lot of thought into! 🙂
Beautiful image Mark!
Intriguing thoughts, ideas, … and something that will always be debated about in some form until the end of time. I guarantee it!!
good food for thought Mark. The term is so subjective that I find it hard to nail down to one definition- what is one mans (or womans) art is anothers’ ‘snapshot’.
I love the image you posted with this.. to me, it’s art. You have a definite style.. and that’s where craft comes in. I think 😉
There are many forms of art, but I say it is in the eye of the beholder…when I take a photo it is something that I like and that is what I call art. I hope this makes sense.
That is an interesting question. One to which I have no answer; however, I’m not entirely sure that the word ‘art’ has ever been defined sufficiently. Here’s one definition:
The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
That said, anything can be art and the definition is so subjective as to render it useless, IMHO.
Add to that the definition of craft: an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp. manual skill. This mentions the word art. So are art and craft the same thing? Who knows.
I’m not sure if any of my photos are works of art, or personal statements, but what I am sure of is that my photographs are my personal view of the world. They show how I see the world and what I appreciate or deem important. That’s about as close as I can come to a so-called personal statement.