via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Thank you, I do tend to be a bit serious about photography. This thread has been interesting as many people actually did, or at least tried to, stay on point.

Kefing Loc: Oak Lawn, IL

Artistic Photography?
It’s photographs that stir the emotions of the viewer.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

I just searched for images you have created and posted here..... I didn't have to look far......

anotherview Loc: California

Some photographs induce a visual pleasure apart from any viewer emotion or feeling. Some photographs catch the eye primarily for their interesting qualities. In general, the intention of the photographer determines the effect of the photographic rendition on viewers.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

IMHO, Artistic photography is one of the many deliberate decision & action a photographer can pursue & apply to accomplish a set goal or idea. Sometimes such goals need other tools besides the camera to allow the photographer to express his/her intent. Photoshop is one of such tools that enables expression and ideas to be created beyond the photograph.

Just like the camera which can be set or used to catch awful photos, more so can be done with PS. After all, it is just a tool and the outcome would always depend on the person wielding it.

As for the "customers", I have yet to meet someone who wish himself to be ugly on a photo. Many would ask for improvements or even request the photo to be erased because they do not look good on it.

Personally & in my work, I see Digital photography & Photoshop as left and right hands working together.
Granted there are many times only a camera is needed, i can not ignore the opportunities that PS provides.

As an example, I saw this image and captured it.

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That's what I saw in my mind. In reality, this was the scene, PS allowed me to show you what I saw.



Another example is this photo:



In this case, PS enabled me to show a better result than what I captured,
because even when I did my best, the circumstance & the limitation of my lens only allowed for this image.


Finally this image:


Sure, the new topiary is not real, but I stand firm that adding it did not take any essence away.
It still is a much better photo than the original capture in which an element, the dying plant can not be avoided.


They are all just tools. The outcome depends on the person's decision when using them.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It IS all about frame of mind, perception and life experience.

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srt101fan

I agree, Wallen; there is nothing wrong with using editing tools along with a camera to create an image. You show some fine examples.

graybeard

A bowl of fruit on a table.

graybeard

............or anything out of focus................

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EJMcD

Any photo that I find beautiful and worthy of framing and mounting on my wall.

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I have heard that sort of thing before.
As an artist Ive found it disheartening.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Care to elaborate?

I'm with you on that, by the way. Art is often NOT a pretty picture worthy of hanging on the wall. It can be almost anything... even a banana duct taped to a piece of canvas on stretchers.

This whimsical bench (Machined Nature: Anchored Candy no. 9 by Vivian Beer) can be found on the campus of Davidson College, and is part of its sculpture collection that also includes a Rodin. It's a bit jarringly out of place there, but one of my classmates donated it. He's just the kind of guy to shake the conventional wisdom a bit.

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Beautiful ⭐🏅⭐🏅⭐

EJMcD

My post remains as stated. So sorry you didn't like my input...Artist? Hope you feel better.