I'm a little late to this discussion but I have read all the threads and would like to put in my 2 cents worth.

A big feature of the D500 that hasn't been mentioned is the 4K photo capabilities. Now before you dismiss this feature because you don't like to shoot video, I said 4K PHOTO not video. What this means is that with 4K PHOTO activated can shoot at 30 frames per second, and use each frame as an 8mb JPEG. Alright, an 8mb JPEG isn't that big but how "big" is it to capture the exact decisive moment of an action. For example, a diver caught in mid-air with his fingertips just touching the surface of the water. Or a kid popping a soap bubble at the exact instant when the bubble deforms. Try that with your Nikon or Canon 14 fps camera and see if you can get that shot. The size of an 8mb file is not that bad compared to "not getting" the shot at all. 4K Photo, look it up. Some Mirrorless cameras already do it.

Re.: beauty, I'll stick with "form fitting function" that doesn't care if a human perceives it or not.

Re.: "If you can't put the experience into words", not beauty, that is what the art experience is all about.
It's the feeling that you get from the maker who felt the same way when he made it. BTW, if you could put it into words than maybe it's literature. A little far into the weeds at this point.

I like your thinking.

I always enjoy spirited discussions about art. They really get you thinking.

Beauty has nothing to do with the definition of art. Beauty is form fitting function. It applies to everything, not necessarily art.

My original point was that intent to create art is not a prerequisite for creating art. Prehistoric art was probably intended for many obscure reasons the least being "art". Yet it is "Prehistoric art".

My second issue was that the means or tools of creating art can include anything including a camera (photography = drawing with light, after all )

As to the issue of "everything is subjective". Is that an objective statement?

Recommended specs for printing are 300 ppi at actual print size. Apparently they think you can get away with 200 ppi. I wouldn't push it beyond that.

All I can think of is to try up-interpolating the pic in Photoshop and then cranking up the sharpening and trying to print at a slightly smaller dimension or zooming out as suggested because it implies you have zoomed in.

Exactly what I did.

If it's totally subjective then we all must agree there's no difference between an Ansel Adams and anybody else's snapshot.

Art is works created by artists, really? That helps as much as the other points listed.

Beauty is form fitting function. That applies to a lot of things, not necessarily art. And let's not forget a flower or a sunset is beauty too.

What I was defining is how the process of creating and perceiving art works in the human being.

Reread my definition of art if you want a functional definition that can mean something.

Many think art is undefinable. I'll take a crack at it, in my own words:

Art is the selective re-creation of reality which brings what a person feels inside to a perceptual level for others to grasp on the conceptual level of what he is feeling.

It operates like so: conceptual>perceptual>conceptual. Perceptual is the tangible thing that is made. You can't just talk about a concept and call it art. You've got to make something that conveys your concept through its perception.

Apply it to cave art, medieval art, primitive art, found art, and skilled craftsmen who make things, as well as photography and see if it fits.

You must have intent to create art? What about Cave art, medieval art, primitive art, found art, skilled craftsmen who make things, anyone who does something so well that what they do speaks to you on a non-verbal level? If drawing with light is not art, why not?

If we had to go back to the days before autofocus I doubt we would see even a tenth of the excellent sports and nature photography we enjoy today. And the most successful photographers would only have young eyes.

Let's count our blessings.

If you buy a camera, you are a photographer. If you buy a flute, you own a flute.

I believe Steve Perry has a video on focus points. Steve, where are you now?

You take a picture with a camera. You make a picture with Photoshop. (Where allowed.)

If you don't, doesn't mean others won't.