You know the old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” well I don’t know if it’s true, but it sure feels true. One good photograph tells a story in a way that a thousand words, even well crafted words, can’t seem to accomplish.
Photography is my latest recurring obsession to make it back to the front of what I am doing. I have been cruising Flickr and checking out other people’s photography. I have been reading some tutorials here and there. I upgraded my Flickr account to pro. And I finally bought a new digital camera. (I don’t want to go into a review here). And with all that come some thoughts about photography’s place in life.
Photography Is Art
This morning I read an article over on Phil Coffman’s blog asking about the difference between photography from a photographer’s perspective and a designer’s perspective. I commented over there, so won’t repeat all that here, but it has got me thinking again about my definition of art.
Art is the deliberate attempt to convey emotion through a creative element.
Keep in mind, this is my definition for art and it is a working definition. By working, I mean that it works for me, but I am still working through it. This definition (or some slight variation thereof), has been my guideline for artistic endeavors for almost 13 years (long before I would have considered myself an artist).
There are 4 words in that definition that speak to me (and that whole discussion probably deserves its own post). Deliberate. Convey. Emotion. Creative. (Seriously. That (art and my definition of it) needs its own post because there is a lot packed into those few sentences.)
So photography is art when it is deliberate or intentional and conveys emotion to the viewer and is presented with an eye towards the creative. Phil’s question was about how much post-production work on your photographs takes it out of the realm of photograph and into the realm of design. My answer is, basically, it doesn’t matter. If it is art (see above definition), it is art. If it is not, then it is not.
Whether I set out to capture the perfect photograph with all the right settings and take it straight off my digital and go get a huge 20×30 printed of it with no post-production work or whether I capture the things I see and sit down tweak them on my computer is not the issue. The issue, I think, is intentionality and creativity and the conveyance of emotion. Art is not random or accidental. There is beauty in the “randomness” of our surroundings, but it is the intentional creation that makes it art.
So hone your “art”. Be deliberate. Create a scavenger hunt for yourself. Make a list of 30 things (emotions) you want to capture. Allow yourself 36 shots to get them in. Ideally use film (if you have a decent film camera). If your stuck going digital, get out an old memory card that will only allow you 40 shots or so. Don’t use delete and go home when you’re full.
Photography Is Social Commentary
One of the great things about Flickr is that it allows you to share your photos with friends. Whether snapshots of the new baby or artistic nature pics, you can allow others to view, comment on, and potentially download and use your photos.
- Photography connects people. You can’t help but look into a photograph and feel a bit of what the people captured there are feeling.
- Photography take you places. Whether you have been there before, photography transports you into other lands and introduces you to people you may have never met.
- Photography connects us with our past. Even badly taken old snapshots will bring back the most distant memories.
My friend Bryan (who is an amazing amateur photographer) wrote a post recently about why he takes photos.
Photo taken by Bryan Villarin
When I’m using the Metro or walking the streets of Los Angeles, everyone is in their own world. Their earbuds are in place with music blasting. Others have their eyes on a page in a book or newspaper, reading their favorite fiction or catching up on the latest news. But, I know that each person on that subway or light rail car has a story. I want to capture that, even if no words can be exchanged.
…
In a society where communication is so easy through the internet, we see each other face to face less frequently. I’m trying to bring that back, somehow.
Go read the whole post. Seriously. (and check out his photos).
Modern social media tools like Flickr let us become this generation’s photojournalists. We don’t have to wait for some professional to publish his/her pictures in a magazine or newspaper. We can be instantly transported around the world, connected to other people, and transported back in time.
Whether you are a parent documenting the family’s progress, an amateur photographer documenting the life around you, or a minister, teacher or club sponsor who is living life with people, take the time to take photographs. Spend time looking at other people’s photographs. Visit the world. Meet new people. Document your history, not just world history. And take other people along with you.
Putting It All Together
So photography is art and social commentary. And with today’s technologies, we are the artists and it is our world to comment on. Unleash your camera and creativity on the world. Be deliberate and creative in your photography and share it so others can learn and grow and journey with you.
