Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I read an article recently that suggested that creativity in photography was in decline. That because modern digital cameras make it so easy to make a good photograph that many just aim the camera and push the button. Thinking about how the subject is presented has fallen by the wayside. That using over or under exposure, greater or shallower DoF and other techniques are being forgotten. I think he has a point and I was wondering others think about this.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Different times, different generation, different interests.

The creative aspects of photography had already changed many times by the time digital came along.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

In a discussion with 2 photographers yesterday all 3 of us believed "composition" to be the most lacking quality in photos lately, i.e., the subject dead center.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The snap shooters don't know/don't care (the "Instamatic" shooters),
The ones serious about photography will learn.

srt101fan

Hmm.... Could be, but....

There has always been a distinction between serious photographers and snap-shooters. For me, by definition, a "serious" photographer will always think "about how the subject is presented" regardless of how easy the camera makes the picture-taking process.

I think most digital photographers consider at least some editing to be part of the overall process. In this context, camera settings and post-adjustments are in a basket of options for getting what you want. Maybe some photographers have shifted more of the adjustments to post. And perhaps that can be viewed as a lessening of creativity at the camera end of the business.

It is interesting that smart-phones, the cameras of the masses, are incorporating more and more creative controls!?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have commented several times that it seems very difficult to find a photograph with "heart." I'm not even exactly sure what that is, other than being a likely intangible reason to look at a photograph a little bit longer, or to come back and look at it again. Or perhaps to try to decipher its "story."

Over the past few years, I have become very aware of the existence and importance of the Artist's Statement typically associated with a puece of art. This is just a short paragraph, perhaps two paragraphs, which describes things such as the inspiration for a piece of art, or some novel technique used to produce it, or some message the artist hopes the viewer gets, or any of a number of other possible topics.

Kids a tend to be reluctant to write such a statement. (They are often reluctant to commit any thoughts to paper.) A number of folks here have expressed verbal hostility to the idea of writing such a short note. In my mind, this unwillingness to commit to a position on their work is symptomatic of the lack of "heart" that I observe.

While a level of competence is certainly appropriate for any aspiring artist to master, art has never been primarily intended to show off technical prowess. It has been rather to communicate emotions, ideals, beliefs, points of view, and a host of other important and many times intangible values. That's why truly dedicated art teachers will say (forcefully), "Anyone can create art."

I general, I see quite a few nice photographs here. A good number of them are technically quite good. Not too many have heart.

The other side of this discussion is that UHH is probably too judgemental an environment to develop very many new artists.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

...not this, not that, too much this, too much that, too slow, too wide, ......
...Not how I would have done it.
Well, you didn't take the picture.
When you go there you can take them how you want....
If I took it the way you think it should have been done, I'd be you.

gwilliams6

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I’m sorry Linda, but what does that have to do with anything? And what creative aspects have changed many times?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I think it is an issue or problem for some photographers and not for others. Over many years I have seen more of my photographs and more of others. Also I have seen more other graphic arts, including painting. Even though I shoot digital, I still shoot slowly and methodically like I did with film. But I actually get more keepers today.

SteveW8703 Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

Hi, I agree, I learn more in H.S 3 years doing B&W. Now I do a lot of lithography, I take a picture wait months to decide how the finish photograph will be presented.

Bill_de Loc: US

Could it be that folks look to sites like UHH and expect to see high quality images?
Where did folks look for the best photographs before the internet?

I'm not saying there aren't any great photos on the net. However the poorer works are ubiquitous.

In short, if you want to see great pictures, do yourself a favor and look for the sites that post them.

Or, search for the best of the best on UHH and point them out.

The people who search the UHH sites designed to post pictures are nice. Reading the replies it's obvious that we have some of the most polite members on the web. Better then 50% of comments praise the images, good, bad, or just mediocre.

Belly aching about the state of photography, I guess, lets people blow off steam or feel superior.

I miss springtime when everybody is happy and smiling!

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

National Geographic, Time, ...

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

The perception that creativity is in decline may be because the of the ease of being able to share photos on the internet, where as in the past we only saw photos that were deemed worthy of publishing. We are not seeing fewer creative photographs we are now seeing a lower percentage of creative photographs.