Humanity has always been fascinated by the possibility of capturing moments and providing the ability to share something nobody else has seen. With major advancements in technology happening daily there’s no question as to why photography is such a debatable and controversial art form. When new media first came to light photography was one of the main revolutionary changes that has forcibly begun to put traditional art practices to rest. The debate of photography being art is often criticised with the points of, ‘anyone can do it,’ and ‘there is no real talent, nor creativity involved,’ but isn't photography just a modernised way of traditional art? Does it not carry the same key aspects used to make a traditional artwork? And yes, agreeably, it makes it easier to capture those ‘extra special’ moments, but who’s to say a photographer doesn't put just as much skill, effort and creativity into ones work.
With the concept of art being around for many millennia, it’s no wonder why traditionalists are running scared. Photography has had a major impact on how we depict imagery and the simplest fact to understand how art is slowly becoming modernised is that the world is growing and technology is becoming inescapable. With the use of camera, internet and gadgets, art works being made with new media and electronic installations in place it will slowly take over the concept of traditional art and a new movement will be made altogether; photography is just the tip of the iceberg. We are becoming overly fascinated with the ideas of new inventions and the concept of holding a moment forever, as artist Man Ray says ‘When the automobile arrived, there were those that declared the horse to be the most perfect form of locomotion,’ obviously those individuals were greatly mistaken.
In general there are only three categories art aspects fit; form, content and context. Form being the main elements of colour, composition, line, shape, dimensions etc, content being the subject matter, meaning, significance and conventions and lastly the context consisting of how the work is interpreted, it’s complexity, arrangement and production. Again I must ask, does photography not fit into any of these categories? We look at a traditional art work and question it, who made it? Why was it made? Even to the extent of where the artwork is made? If a single person asks these questions about a traditional work, why would photography be classed as anything different? We ask questions out of interest because we are intrigued, it is human nature and it is a mechanism to developing an understanding of our own existence.
Generally the main reason photography is speculated about being art is the fact that yes, it does make it all the more easily to capture a moment in time but was that not the intention of a traditional painter in the 16th century? I concur with the statement that ‘anyone can do it,’ but that statement has the same effect with painting, drawing, sculpting and any art practice there is, yes anyone is capable of doing these activities, in general if an individual puts their mind to it their capable of anything, but it takes someone with real passion, skill and creativity to master the fundamental steps of creating a masterpiece, and if photographers like Man Ray, Bill Hensen and Max Dupains' photographs are not classed as masterpieces then the question, what is classed as art must not have any real given answer.
Photographers put just as much skill, effort and creativity into their work as any painter, sculptor, writer or any other profession for that matter. Even a simple photograph being taken has had some thought put into it. A photograph isn't just taken sporadically, time is taken to properly align the subject into frame, make sure the lighting is right, and calculating the perfect moment to take the picture at the time of taking the photograph these simple aspects may not even cross your mind, but sub consciously all you’re thinking about is how to capture that moment perfectly. If photographer Yasumasa Morimura put absolutely no thought, skill or effort into his photographs then why are they being counted as masterful works of art. His appropriated images turn heads, while also commenting on the issue at hand. No photograph can be captured twice so in that sense all images are unique, just like artworks, architecture, sculptures and any other art form that comes to mind so why is the debate of whether photography is art still on going?
The basic fact that one person can state photography as ‘too easy,’ or ‘anyone can do it,’ are ignorant to the bigger picture of what art actually is. Art in its simplest definition is classed as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. The art world is too tied up with the concept of something new over taking what is already known. We are not in the 1600’s where a monumental time has to be painted; we can take a photograph and have it on display forever. As technology advances art styles are bound to expand, be created and surely enough, recreated. If traditional art practices were once accepted then why is photography and digital media not being established as an art form, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s obviously a duck; the same goes for photography, if it has form it’s art, if it has content it’s art and if it has context it’s art.
Sources:
Briot, Alain – Reflections on Photography and Art – Accessed: 25/09/11
Balcomb, Robert – “Is Photography Art?” 2001 – Accessed: 25/09/11
< http://thescreamonline.com/essays-06-01/rsb_photo_essay.html >
Chastain, Sue – Digital art is better than traditional art – Accessed: 28/09/2011
< http://graphicssoft.about.com/u/ua/designandcreate/Digital-Art-Versus-Traditional.htm>
Franco, Damien - Is Photography Art August 3, 2010 – Accessed: 23/09/2011
< http://www.pixiq.com/article/is-photography-art >
Pinhol, Vasco Simões - Photoceania: Man Ray 2011 – Accessed: 22/09/11
< http://www.photoceania.net.novis.pt/manray.htm >
Thripp, Richard – 10 Reasons why photography sucks and Isn’t an art form 20/06/08 – Accessed: 28/09/2011
< httphttp://richardxthripp.thripp.com/2008/06/10-reasons-why-photography-sucks-and-isnt-an-art-form/>
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