Photography Is Art
Introduction
Art is often defined as a process through which elements are deliberately aligned in such a way that they present a significant impact on the emotions of the artist or observer. Art incorporates a wide range of human activities which express personal feelings and emotions such as music, literature, photography and paintings. Photography on the other hand encompasses the artistic creation of still or motion pictures by use of radiation-sensitive media which records the images in the form of radiation. Photography entails recording images which presents a distinct feeling about the object being captured. Similarly, photographers exploit their artistic endeavors by capturing images which have a special effect on them or which portray what their thoughts so that other people can be participate in appreciation of natural and abstract objects. Photography is therefore part of art as its dependent on artistic ideologies especially when carrying out large scale photography. There are very many genres of photography one of them being photojournalism which involves capturing images and events so as to or support generate stories. The other form of photography is fine art photography which is more artistic and delves on the emotional part of the individual.
Discussion
History of photography
The first fine art item to be made in history was a daguerreotype illustration of the Lords Prayer in 1851 by an artiste called John Edwin Mayall (Colin, 2002). During the Victorian era, photographs made by fine art artistes were introduced in museums in the United States Heidegger, (2001). But it was not until the 80s when snapshot aesthetics were included in photography and more people were willing to take up photography as a hobby (Michael, 2007).Over the years, photographers have developed several specific modalities of including the emotional aspect of art into photographs such that they portray more than a picture to an observer (Heidegger, 2001). The field has also gained more recognition as well as developments such as introduction of color photography in the 19th century. The first color photograph was produced in 1907 and much credit was heaped on it as the photographer was able to include the color which best suited the message being presented by the photograph (Barbara, and Perkins, 2008). Although the technicalities involved were quite complex, they were useful in portraying the intended emotion hence increasing the artistic impression on the work. However, this has made it easier to add more effects as well as increasing the artists influence on their work. With digital cameras, the fine art photographer can edit any picture such that it brings out the intended feeling a feature which can only be portrayed by accomplished artistes. Such developments have generated real breakthroughs in the field of fine art photography (Robertson, and Craig, 2005).
Characteristics of art in relation to photography
The ability to communicate the artiste’s emotion and private ideas is one of the major aspects of any work of art. The main objective of art is to generate some sort of appeal as well as arousing the human emotions. By arousing the emotions, the artist is able to communicate their thoughts to the entire audience (Colin, 2002). However, the ability of an artist to portray his/her message to others is dependent on the degree of skill which is exemplified by how abstract ideas are manipulated to portray someone’s thoughts (Barbara, 2008).Fine art photography presents an opportunity for people to capture events such that they can always reminiscence their memory as well as making them go back to that instance when the photograph was taken and by re-living the moment their emotions are aroused. Similarly, the ability of the fine art photographer to capture the memories vividly is dependent on their skills such that the aura surrounding the photograph is determined by the photographer’s artistic eye. Hence those who lack the skills may fail to bring out the required message or impact in either photography or other artistic escapades such as painting (Heidegger, 2001).Sometimes fine art photographers may capture objects which are sentimentally attached to them such that others viewing the same may brand it as being abstract. However, the photographer is always guided by the right of expression such that ordinary individuals may find it difficult to analyze some photographs. Similarly, art presents artistes with the freedom of expressing their thoughts and this often culminate to abstract drawings as well as sculptures being produced (Krages, 2005). Therefore those who are attracted to the work have to seek for the artiste’s intervention so as to understand the message being portrayed (Michael, 2007).Communication in both art and photography is based on the concept of using symbols and colorful graphics to relay the messages. This is often exemplified by subsequent use of more advanced technology and equipment to enhance communication (Wollheim, 1980).The other vital characteristic of fine art photography and art is that it is aimed at appreciating the beauty and harmony which is there in the world and it is more conveniently appreciated when presented in paper, canvas or through any other media. Hence the real art is made of objects which are real or else impressions which are made concrete by an artist so as the art lovers a have a glimpse of the feeling (Barbara, 2008).
The impact of art on commercial photography
Commercial photography involves creation and production of photographs which are later on sold at different prices dependent on the quality of artistic work in the picture. One form of commercial photography which dwells on the artistic quality of a photograph is advertising photography (Michael, 2007). The pictures or images used in advertisements are captured by highly qualified photographers most of whom are conversant with fine art such that they are able to capture details of an image which will appease the customer. The better the artistic impression, the higher the recognition earned and the prices of the item is higher (Collins, 2002).The other area is in fashion and glamour whereby the photographer has to capture specific body parts as well as bring them out quite clearly (Heidegger, 2001). Similarly, a fashion photographer has to understand key concepts on the message or item being modeled such that it appears more prominently in the photograph. Possession of added qualities such as experience in various ways of portraying one message is very fundamental in increasing the quality of work being sought (Robertson, 2005).The other category of artistes though not necessarily commercial involves landscape photography coupled with wildlife photography. Most of this work is either customized such that photographers who are able to capture nature in its immediate form get more recognition. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between photographs of landscapes with their painted counterparts dependent on the level of expertise (Krages, 2005).
Conclusion
Photography is an art which encompasses all details which are involved in production of artistic work whether they are images or concrete ideas. This is because for any photographer to achieve recognition in his/her own work, they should include intense art work which is expressive of moral issues in the society. Similarly, the characteristics presented by art are similar to those which are applied in photography thus making the field more related.
References
Colin, P. (2002)”Contemporary Art and the Home”. Berg Publishers,. p. 12
Barbara, L. and Perkins, M. (2008), Illustrated dictionary of photography: the professional’s guide to terms and techniques. Buffalo, NY: Amherst Media
Heidegger, M. (2001), “the origin of the work of art”, in poetry, language and thought. Northwestern University Press
Krages, B.P. (2005), Photography: the art of composition. New York: Alworth Press
Michael R. Peres (2007). The Focal encyclopedia of photography: digital imaging, theory and applications, history, and science. Focal Press. p. 38.
Robertson, J. and Craig, M. (2005), Themes of Contemporary Art, Visual Art after 1980,page 4. OxfordUniversity Press,
Wollheim, R, (1980), Art and its objects, p.1, 2nd ed, Cambridge University Press.
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