The advent of digital imaging has changed everything. It’s now so much easier to take a great picture that the difference between a dud and a classic seems to lie in the eye of the beholder.

We look at an image and make snap judgments about it. Is this picture art? Does it move us? Do we like it?

The topic of whether or not photography is art is one that has been debated for many years. However, we must first understand the definition of what art truly is.

The definition of art is, “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
 

Is photography art

Is photography art?

When you look at a painting or a sculpture, you’re seeing the results of the artist’s own skill, experience and vision.

When you look at an image made by a photographer, even if it was taken by someone with little or no experience or vision, you’re still seeing the results of their decision-making.

That is to say, their personal choices about which lens to use, where to stand, what time of day to take the picture, how long the shutter should be open for – these are all decisions they made based on their skill level and what they knew at the time.

In some cases, they may have even set up lighting and used props and filters. The point is that there is more to photography than simply pointing a camera at something and pressing a button.

It may not be art but it is almost always something that has been created by an individual with intent.

The term ‘art photographer’ is, therefore, redundant because every photographer has to be an artist in order to make good pictures.
 

 

I’ve always thought of photography as art. But I’m not sure I could have made that case convincingly even five years ago.

The reason is that digital cameras have made it much easier to take good pictures.

You can point your camera at almost anything and create a decent image, whereas 20 or 30 years ago, you would have had to take an expensive course to achieve similar results.

The result is that a lot of people have picked up cameras and started taking pictures, often without bothering to learn the principles of good composition or lighting.

It’s easy to spot the results of such amateurish efforts in exhibitions and online — they’re the ones where the subject is slightly out of focus and the colors are slightly off.

Artistic endeavor requires more than just technical competence, though; the result also has to communicate something beyond its subject matter.

The next question we must ask is, “is photography a two-dimensional image?”

If so, then it clearly would be included in the previous definition, making it art. Another question that may arise is if photography is considered a three-dimensional image.

Is Photography Art?

Although you can view photography in three dimensions by viewing it from different angles and distances, you are still looking at a flat object.

   

We may say that photography is an extension of painting because we use light to capture images and then develop them onto film or paper.

However, even this can be challenged because painting uses chemistry to make colors and paint while photography makes use of physics instead.

With this being said, it can be concluded that although photography has some similarities to art, that in reality it cannot be called art.

What Makes Photography Art?

If you’re into photography, you might have wondered what makes a photograph art. Is it the camera? The subject? Maybe the photographer or the method of taking the picture?

These questions might have crossed your mind when looking at art photography or just photos of famous artists and their work.

Trying to define what really makes a photograph art is not an easy task. There are different opinions about this matter. However, we can all agree that a photograph is unique and authentic to its creator.

And that’s what makes it art. If a person has taken a picture he or she believes is worthy of being called “art,” then it’s already art because it was created by that person’s own hands, mind and soul.

Photography is one of the biggest art forms there is today, but how did it get to be so popular? It started with early scientists who were the first ones to take pictures with cameras in the 19th century.

They used photography as a tool for documenting nature, which helped them learn more about their surroundings.

Art photography became popular in the 20th century when photographers began using modern techniques such as digital technology and other equipment to create their images.

But even with advanced cameras and film technology today, many still question whether or not photography is legitimately art.

Creative Skills Turns Photography Into Works Of Art

Museums are famous for their art, but there is another art that has been around for a long time

– photography. 

It has become a lot more advanced thanks to technology, but is it still just about taking and sharing photos? Maybe not anymore. 

The photography shown in this article proves that it can be taken to new heights by taking photos and turning them into incredible pieces of art.

The photographs below show how your standard photographs can be transformed into incredible pieces of art by the use of Photoshop and other photo editing software. 

   

These photos are actually quite amazing and they are definitely something different than what you normally see.

Many people have tried different things to create some really cool photos, but this collection of images contains some of the best work by a variety of different photographers.

The first photograph was created by Elliot Ross who spent nine hours creating this piece. He had to take over 600 pictures in order to get the final result you see above.

The second picture above was created by Cristian Pegoraro and shows off an aerial view of a cityscape with all of the buildings made from toothpicks. You might think it would be easy to make all of those on the ground, but try doing it.

The Gift Of Photography

You see, I was a photographer long before I was a writer, and today, every word I write is traced back to my life as a photographer.

Cameras were an essential part of my existence even before I could read and write. My father and grandfather were both keen photographers and they used to take me on trips with them.

When I was around three, they gave me my first camera to play with…a little plastic toy that made real photographs. I remember looking through the viewfinder at my dad’s face and pressing the button over and over again until he got annoyed with me.

I didn’t know it at the time but I had found my calling. The camera became an extension of myself – never leaving my side and, when in use, drawing out of me an artistic vision that had no real boundaries.

As a writer, words are central to what I do but as a photographer, pictures were always king. Words became my way of putting into context those pictures that seemed to already have meaning for others but for which words were only ever adequate substitutes.

As it has turned out, the two careers have been complementary rather than competitive as writing has allowed me to explore ideas that would not have been possible through photography alone.

The Emotional Power Behind Photography

If you have been looking at photography online, then you may have come across a photo that has made you smile, or one that has made your heart skip a beat. Perhaps you have thought to yourself “wow”, or “that is beautiful!”.

We all respond to images in different ways, but the connection we feel with them is powerful. It reaches us at a very basic level, and can affect us in ways we don’t always realise.

A lot of people think that photography is about capturing a moment in time, or recording events as they happen.

They think it’s about using technical skills to capture the perfect image, or using creative skills to produce an image that no one else could ever make. Whilst these elements are true, they are just part of photography. The other element is what I call the emotional power of photography.

The emotional power of photography is how we connect with an image emotionally, individually and personally. This can be anything from a feeling of awe, wonder and inspiration to feelings of sadness and even despair.

I’m not talking about manipulating people’s emotions here by showing horrific events that would make most people feel sad or depressed. 

Is Photography A Visual Art?

Is photography a visual art or is it a science? Many people believe that either the photographer’s creative eye or the camera’s automatic settings should determine how the photograph is captured. However, both sides have merit.

Photography is a skill that relies on both the artist and the scientist to produce a successful image. One approach is not better than the other; it just depends on what you are hoping to capture in your picture.

How much control do you want? Do you want more artistic control or more scientific control? Understanding these two approaches can help you decide which method fits your needs best.

Science of Photography and Respective Equipment

A scientific approach to photography involves using some type of equipment to capture images. Point-and-shoot cameras, 35mm film and even iPhone cameras are examples of equipment that require little to no creativity from the photographer.

The equipment does most of the work for you, leaving less room for error. This also makes it easier for beginning photographers to capture images without having to worry about technique or advanced skills.

If you are trying to take pictures at a sporting event or with moving subjects, this approach can be beneficial because it allows you to focus on capturing the action instead of worrying about the technical aspects of photography.

What Is Photography Art

Photography art is the creative expression of a photographer. It is more than just taking a picture. 

A photograph is usually a single moment in time and space, captured on film or digitally by the camera. Photography art involves multiple images that may never have been seen before. The photographer has to create these out of their own mind.

This can be done through the use of an image created from scratch or through the manipulation of existing images. In either case, photography art is a reflection of how the artist’s mind works and how they see the world as it is around them.

Truly great photography art does not come about overnight. It takes dedication, hard work, and practice to develop your skills as a photographer.

Some photographers spend years trying to capture that one perfect shot that will be remembered for generations to come. Most likely, this will take place in front of the camera instead of behind it.

Understanding the technical side of photography is important to creating great photography art. You need to understand how cameras work along with what happens to an image when it comes out of a camera and onto paper or into a computer program such as Photoshop.

Camera lenses, shutter speeds, and lighting are some of the most important aspects of understanding photography art and so much more.

The Elements Of Art In Photography

Everything in a photograph must serve the main purpose of the image – to represent a story or a moment in time. These elements are often referred to as The Elements Of Art In Photography.

Sometimes, photographers spend so much time worrying about getting the perfect shot that they forget about the rest of the elements that make an image aesthetically pleasing. Don’t be one of those people who jump right into editing without thinking about how you want your photo to look.

The purpose of this segmentis to help you think of all the elements that are involved in creating an aesthetically appealing image.

Lines can be both horizontal and vertical. They can be hard or soft and they can also lead your eye into the frame or out.

Use lines to separate areas, create depth, and draw attention to specific parts of your image. The most important parts of your image should have stronger lines than less important parts.

Types of lines: 

Horizontal lines 

Follow natural lines, such as horizon lines, door frames, windows, etc. 

Vertical lines 

Create depth by dividing the frame from top to bottom or side to side.

Diagonal lines 

Used for drama or tension in your photos and usually lead your eye into the image. They can also separate objects from each other and add dimension.

Photography Art Movements

You must have heard the expression that a picture is worth a thousand words. Indeed, it is. The photographs that you see in magazines, newspapers and postcards have been taken by talented photographers who understand the art of capturing moments using their camera and equipment.

Photography has been around since the first photograph was produced in 1826. This is one of the major art forms that emerged during the 19th century when there was a movement towards realism in art.

In fact, photography has become so popular that it has influenced other art forms, especially painting, which hasborrowed distinct elements from photographs to create new artistic styles.

The word ‘photography’ comes from two Greek words: “photo” which means light and “graphy” which means drawing or writing. It is a way of recording images through an optical device called camera for future reference or viewing.

It can be used for many purposes such as for evidence, for communication, and for entertainment.

Art movements and schools can be studied in depth when examining the history of photography and its development as an art form.

There were several schools of thought regarding how photography should develop as an art form but each had its own special quality and contribution to make to this fine art.

How Photography Started

It started with a delay. The camera obscura was a precursor to the modern-day camera and was invented in the 6th century. It consisted of a dark room or chamber and had a small hole in one of the walls, through which light passed. The image was then projected onto the opposite wall.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, with the advent of portable cameras obscuras, it became possible to capture images on paper. By 1676, William Talbot had discovered that setting an image on tin salt darkened by exposure to light could be used as an alternative to engraving.

In 1826, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took an image and made it permanent by creating a pewter plate out of bitumen and oil of lavender. His camera photograph did not have the quality of modern photos; however, it was still one of the first permanent records of an image.

In 1829, John Herschel made further enhancements when he produced the first glass negative from a photographic negative after doing so accidentally. Photography had now become more sophisticated and gained popularity among scientists for their research purposes.

In 1839, Louis Daguerre patented and introduced the daguerreotype.

Is Digital Photography Art

Art and photography have been inseparable for centuries, but digital cameras and image manipulation software have changed the game.

Now it’s possible to create photographs that include some of the artistic elements of painting and sculpture. And yet, many people still feel that digital photography is somehow less than art. Is that true? What makes a photograph an “art” work? Or is digital photography not art at all?

So what makes a photograph art? Some people feel that a work of art must be created by hand, using nothing but the materials provided by nature. Therefore, anything made with the help of machines or other people would be inferior to the real thing.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that an artist uses whatever tools are available to him or her in order to express ideas.

To this point of view, a photographer who uses Photoshop or a camera with automatic settings is no less an artist than one who spends hours in a darkroom or carefully paints every detail of a scene.

Photography as an art form grew quickly when cameras became portable and easy to use. But traditionalists were appalled by the way many photographers used their new tools. 

Enjoying Photographic Art

Artistic photographs are a great way to add color, texture and expression to your home design. And there are many ways to make that happen. This sectionwill explain some popular methods of artistic photography and how you can use them in your home design.

1. Tintype Photography

Tintype photography is a unique photographic art that has been around for over 150 years. It was the first form of photography where the image was created on a thin sheet of iron that was coated with a layer of chemicals

The photo would then be transferred onto paper, which would give it an old-fashioned look, as if it was taken hundreds of years ago.

The process is much more labor-intensive than other forms of photography, but the end result is worth it.

Tintype photographers use complicated equipment and have to develop their photos in the dark, but you can still photograph images using the same process at home. Many people are able to create tintype images using a simple camera and chemicals found in the home.*

2. Platinum Printing

This photographic art uses platinum printing paper instead of regular printing paper. Platinum printing paper contains silver nitrate crystals under its surface. The crystals are highly sensitive to light and turn black when exposed to light rays.*