Blog 3. Photo Art ?
Why do we have a category called ‘Photo Art’ ? Isn’t all photography a form of ‘art’? As is often the case this depends on your point of view. In it’s simplest form photography is the recording of an image on a light sensitive material. But most photos would be pretty boring if it stopped there. Even the best modern cameras only capture images in 2D and limited dynamic range. It is often the editing of these images, either in the dark room or digital editor, that brings the scene to life. The best photographers find (in the case of landscapes) or create (for still life) compositions that are pleasing to the eye. The photographer will then wait for (or create) lighting conditions that best illuminate that composition. Editing skills enable the best use of the available light/contrast/colour to realise the photographers vision. The very best photographers are able to share with the viewer the emotions that were felt when viewing the original scene. The photographer has used their technical skill and emotional vision to create something of beauty - in a word ‘art’.
On our site we use the term ‘Photo Art’ simply to clarify to the viewer that for certain images the ‘creative’ aspect of image creation has been taken a step (or sometimes several) further. Varying techniques can be used to provide these additional creative steps - ICM (intentional camera movement)/ adding textures/compositing, to name but a few. But they all have the same aim - to create something of beauty and hopefully convey a sense of place or feeling to the viewer. As always of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You don’t have to like the images, but hopefully you can appreciate the intent.
Here are a few of quotes from the great Ansel Adams - “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” “Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” “A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
Below are a few example of our ‘Photo Art’
a). A close up ICM of Flax leaves. An attempt to show that an image with colour, texture and form can be created from everyday subjects.
b). During our brief time at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall I couldn’t coordinate the best tides/lighting/lack of tourists to capture the single image I wanted. So instead I took separate images, during the best times and combined them to express what I saw in my minds eye.
c). One of my first attempts at compositing images (so has a soft spot in my affections - even though it drove me nuts learning!). Taking a photo of a small Island off the Devon coast I could also just see Eddystone lighthouse on the far horizon and I thought -”pity there isn’t a lighthouse next to the island”. Then I thought - why not make it happen. I also added some textures and a few birds for good measure!
