secular

This conversation is really a discussion of definition and intent. My phone dictionary has four definitions for “art.”

Essentially:

1. Products of human creativity
2. Creating beautiful or significant things
3. Superior skill via study, practice and observation
4. Photographs and other visual representations in a printed publication

Deciding which one is being referred to can be helpful in discussing the topic.

The other factors are the photographer’s intent and the viewer’s impression, which is the “in the eyes of the beholder” variable. Because of the somewhat relative nature of beauty and the vagueness of the word “art” the answer will necessarily be highly opinion based rather than objective. That is what makes it interesting to discuss. One gets an insight to others’ motives, methods and values.

spowers5 Loc: upstate New York

I like your take on this. Photography is an art in it self and can be part of another art form.

mrpentaxk5ii

I came back from walking our dog, and gave this topic some thought. Art is like food in as much that both have many sub-categories. Photography falls under the category of Visual arts, wikapedia defines visual Arts as a creation of Images or objects in fields including, today : Paintings, Sculpture, printmaking, photography and other visual media. Other forms of art include, paintings, prints drawings,photography, craft, design, performance art, mixed media, sculpture, installation and new media. The bottom line is this. art is more than just paintings.

Robertven Loc: Fort Worth

Louis Armstrong was asked by Edward R. Murrow, "Louis, what is jazz?" Louis answered, "Mr. Murrow, There ain't but two kinds of music, good and bad. If it sounds good, you don't worry about what it is."

TheDman Loc: USA

What is the difference between an electronic brush and a physical brush?

ELNikkor

I'm with OddJobber...

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

The photograph becomes art as soon as it is displayed. An image takes on the meaning the observer gives it, making it art. And the photographer tries to make the image relay their own inner view, regardless if they prefer to do this in camera or in post-processing.
Sometimes I take what I call "record" photographs, merely meant to record what's in front of me so I can relive the memory. But there is an artist in me, too, and my computer lets me enhance my images according to my artistic vision. Sometimes they don't need much enhancing, but other times I love to push the boundaries and change the image into something that is somewhat based on the original. No result is "wrong" if it pleases me- untouched or retouched, or highly processed, depending on my needs and mood. Mind you, if I were shooting commercially, the customer would also have a vision that I would need to take into account.

dave.m

In reply to Boberic re straight line of paint on canvas doesn't make you an artist - I think it definitely does if you look at some of Emins or Hurst work :)

repleo Loc: Boston

'Deciding which one is being referred to can be helpful in discussing the topic.'. I don't think 'Art' in photography is any one of those definitions. It is all four combined.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

In the early days of photography starting in 1839, photography was not considered an art. In fact, early photographers tried to imitate paintings, which were considered true art. Over the years, photography began to gain consideration as an art form. Then in 1955, Edward Steichen presented The Family of Man Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A book followed by the same name that every serious photographer should have in their library. From that time forward, photography has gained status as an art form.

Because photography in itself is now considered an art form, alterations to photographs by the photographer in my opinion should be considered part of the art the photographer is producing in the same way any artist puts his or herself into a painting, sculptural, or other work of art such as a piece of architecture. Therefore, there is no separation between the camera and the software aspects of the final work. The software is just another tool the artist/photographer has to work with just as new media such as acrylic paint has become another media for the painter/artist.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Ansel Adams was the master of manipulation. It is reported that approximately 900 prints exist of Moonrise, Hernandez. I various sizes, paper, and quality. It has been stated that no 2 are probably identical. Granted, Ansel's manipulations can not come close to what we can now do with HDR. Some of the manipulation done today takes the photographer's eye far beyond what they saw, unless they were on LSD.:~)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Yankeepapa6 Loc: New York City

Protest away. I think you may have missed the meaning. Creativelive has a course on how to make your photos look more like paintings.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

dadaist

Agreed. That is why there are often different versions presented of the same artwork--an idea comes forth, forging a new concept, thereby having the artist experiment in a different direction. If this were not the case, then art would be fixed and static, as well.