a 200 year old debate
People have been asking, and answering, the question, "Is photography art?" for a long time. Photography was invented in 1822 when the first photograph was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. Then came another inventor and artist in 1829, Louis Daguerre. He partnered with Niépce to improve the photography process. After Niepce’s death, Daguerre continued his work, and the process evolved into what is now known as the daguerreotype. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was so struck by Daguerreotypes that she rhapsodized over
"the very shadow of the person lying there fixed forever". The fidelity of features captured meant that she "would rather have such a memorial of one I dearly loved, than the noblest Artist's work ever produced" not "in respect (or disrespect) of Art, but for Love's sake."
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines art as: “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” The dictionary also defines a work of art as something that is “produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes.” Therefore by it's very definition, photography is art, and I think we know I'm going to agree here. There are plenty of dejectors, but who needs that negativity?! Moving on...As a photographer, my work consists of a carefully composed, exposed, focused, and captured image, creating inherent artistic value.
Photography, as a medium, can copy, or alter reality with new context and meaning. Messages and symbolism can be conveyed through the presentation of a still image. The juxtaposition of visual elements can take on new value when frozen in time as a photograph. All of the near-infinite photographic variables and possibilities make it clear that photography is artistic. Why does this matter? I can't answer that for anyone but myself. I've spent my life leaning artistic, searching for a medium. I was 13 when I took my first photography class, with a 35mm camera. I spent my days scraping pennies from the couch to pay to get my film developed at the drug store. Oh the anticipation of waiting for film to be returned in the form of a print! Now 30 years later, things have circled back and I feel just like her again, except for the film part. I pop that SD card in my laptop with instant gratification. I still like to find pennies in the couch, but mostly I just love my medium. I love it. I love the light, and shadows, and composition, and focus, and creating something beautiful. I was made for it. I know that within my very soul.
"Since we were made to glorify God, worship happens when someone is doing exactly what he or she was made to do.” ― Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark
I'll leave you with one more quote from AP that's been on my mind as this artistic pursuit called a business is struggling to get off the ground...
“Either you're willing to steward the gift God gave you by stepping into the ring and fighting for it, or you spend your life in training, cashing in excuse after excuse until there's no time left, no fight left, no song, no story.” ― Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark
This is me stepping into the ring.
