Artistic Intentions: Artistic intentions This section has produced several lively threads kicking around the is it Art? question. The notion of artistic intention at the decisive...

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Artistic intentions
This section has produced several lively threads kicking around the is it Art? question. The notion of artistic intention at the decisive moment floated through some of these discussions. One of these pictures was made with artistic intentions prior to making the exposure and the other moved in that direction during the PP stage. Does it matter?
More to the point, I love Turkey Vultures! I have since I was a child. Get out and watch one of these creatures ride a thermal for endless moments without a single flap of wing. Is that art? I dont know. But I do know that my aesthetic sense is stirred in much the same way as when I'm listening to a favorite piece of music. Im comfortable with a very broad definition of art and terms like artistic merit and aesthetic sense. Im also learning to be comfortable with the fact that I may never know what the Vulture had in mind.
Phil

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gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

I especially like the second one. And I don't care if you planned on it prior to the shot. To me, it's art. To say that we need intent prior to anything being considered art is to say that there is no art which is not man made or man-manipulated.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

gym wrote:

I especially like the second one. And I don't care if you planned on it prior to the shot. To me, it's art. To say that we need intent prior to anything being considered art is to say that there is no art which is not man made or man-manipulated.

Yep! That is where it gets tricky. Hi gym, thanks for comment.
Phil

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I, too, prefer the second one.

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

waykee7 Loc: Cortez, Colorado

rockdog wrote:

Artistic intentions br This section has produced ... (show quote)

I'm inclined to see art as Ananda Coomaraswamy sees it: whether you are painting a painting or building a jetliner, it it is done the right way, properly, then it's art. By that yardstick, the first image is a bit soft to my liking, and the second more closely approaches, or achieves, art.

BTW, I have an acquaintance, a biologist, who is involved with the condor restoration project in southern Utah. It's a pretty foul job at times. . . hauling rotting dairy calves with a 4-wheeler into remote areas, and setting traps to catch the condors, and then drawing blood on them on a dark night so they don't desensitize to humans. But she LOVES vultures and condors, and loves every picture I send her. The Hopis call turkey vultures "Navajo eagles" in a derisive, but funny pun. . .

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Phil, you have a way with words equal to your photography abilities! I loved how you described your aesthetic sense being stirred, and your observations about artistic intentions.

Oh, and cool vulture shots too :)

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

luvmypets wrote:

I, too, prefer the second one.

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Hi luvmypets, Thank you for the comment and the visit.
Phil

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

I'll add to the vote for the second shot here, and the effort required to plan and get this beautiful shot makes it art.

And with that face, he's certainly set for Halloween, lol, so my guess is he's wondering what to wear to the office Christmas party.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

waykee7 wrote:

I'm inclined to see art as Ananda Coomaraswamy see... (show quote)

"An artist in the kitchen", an artist at the forge, I agree that things done well can move us aesthetically, and that is art. The slippery slope begins when we start to define "done well","done in the right way" or "properly".
Hi waykee7, Thank you for your comment. I'm enjoying some guilty pleasure at knowing how the Hopi dis the Navajo. I appreciate your visit and thoughts.
Phil

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Linda From Maine wrote:

Phil, you have a way with words equal to your photography abilities! I loved how you described your aesthetic sense being stirred, and your observations about artistic intentions.

Oh, and cool vulture shots too :)

Thanks for the visit Linda.
Phil

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Treepusher wrote:

I'll add to the vote for the second shot here, and the effort required to plan and get this beautiful shot makes it art.

And with that face, he's certainly set for Halloween, lol, so my guess is he's wondering what to wear to the office Christmas party.

Hi Randy, Thanks for the comment. Buzzards get so few invitations to Christmas events. Very sad. Something to think about next December folks!
Phil

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

rockdog wrote:

Hi Randy, Thanks for the comment. Buzzards get so few invitations to Christmas events. Very sad. Something to think about next December folks!
Phil

Good point, Phil. Being something of an old buzzard myself, can't help empathizing with our friend here. Merry Christmas, pal! LOL

Great work on this, Phil. I really enjoyed seeing what you did with this. Maybe not the prettiest of birds, but still a magnificent piece of art.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

I don't feel sorry enough to extend a dinner invitation to the nearest buzzard, Phil, but I certainly do like your buzzard art. Why you even made him look attractive!

rockdog wrote:

Hi Randy, Thanks for the comment. Buzzards get so few invitations to Christmas events. Very sad. Something to think about next December folks!
Phil

MattPhox Loc: Rhode Island

I ditto # 2. As someone on another thread pointed out they have a face only a mother could love. But somehow you made the bird a beautiful image.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Dixiegirl wrote:

I don't feel sorry enough to extend a dinner invitation to the nearest buzzard, Phil, but I certainly do like your buzzard art. Why you even made him look attractive!

Thanks for the visit. Yes, as much as I love them, no closer than 75% of the view finder at 400mm please.
Phil