Are you an hobbyist or artist?

Thingy

Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Messages
192
Location
London, Engl
Format
Multi Format
I take photographs purely for pleasure. I'm only really satisfied with a small number of my images and am increasingly becoming very particular about what I photograph using Quickload film. Hopefully this will instill a similar discipline when making smaller format images.... especially when using digital!
 

nolanr66

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2006
Messages
283
Format
35mm
I am pretty busy with job, home and family. I suppose I am a part time hobbyist.
 

(AL)

Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
6
Location
BC Canada
Format
35mm
Having been in photography as an amateur and professional for 45 years, I know enough to realize that I don't know much. At this point I am pleased to be known as a 'hobbyist'.
 

CD55

Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
110
Location
SF Bay Area,
Format
Multi Format
I'm definitely a hobbyist with some artistry mixed in would be the way I call myself.
 

batwister

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Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Messages
913
Location
Midlands, UK
Format
Medium Format
I never call myself a photographer as I don't make a living from it and people would assume I do if I used that word. In the same vein, I wouldn't use the word artist. Hobbyist it is for now. I suppose I would prefer to be called an artist, as working with film is a craft.
 

Valerie

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 22, 2005
Messages
1,194
Location
Magnolia, Tx
Format
Multi Format
Artist. (others are welcome to see my work and think differently, but that is how I see myself).
 

pcyco

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
456
Location
near vienna
Format
Multi Format
hallo

hobby artist ;-)

hobbyist
 

TSSPro

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
376
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
After the long discussion I got in with one of my MFA professors yesterday....I havent got the foggiest idea of what I am. She tore into me like a starving man at a vegas buffet, it wasnt pretty.
 

goros

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
279
Location
The Basque C
Format
Medium Format
I'm a photography amateur.

Amateur, from latin amator= one who loves

Cheers
 

Jim Chinn

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2002
Messages
2,512
Location
Omaha, Nebra
Format
Multi Format
I consider myself an amateur in the true since of the word. On occasion I have produced work that I (and a few others) call art in the sense that they wanted to have it to hang on the wall or own. I suppose the term hobbyist applies in the sense that I really enjoy the whole process from making the decision on what camera/process/film to use, to deciding on the image, to the mundane such as mixing chemistry.

One thing I have noticed over the years is if I don't concern myself with making art but just photograph what I enjoy or find interesting with what ever camera or process I fancy that day I will come up with some gems and enjoy the whole process. The few times I have endeavored to concentrate on making "art" the whole thing eventually becomes drudgery. Maybe documentarian is a better word than artist. A lot of what I enjoy is working on projects such as photographing grain elevators, churches, industrial ruins, old tools and light and shadow abstractions and weather. From these projects a few art pieces emerge.
 

benjiboy

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Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,953
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
This is the third thread on this forum in as many weeks on this type subject, why are people so insecure that they need to keep asking it ?
 

Barry S

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,350
Location
DC Metro
Format
Large Format
No group has greater insecurity or confusion about its position in the art world than photographers. I spend a lot of time with painters, sculptors, printmakers, and other artists. None of them have any issues with defining themselves as artists regardless of the amount of time they spend, or income they derive, from their art. Without exception, they consider photographers as fellow visual artists. Defining yourself as an artist is no act of braggadocio--it simply describes what you're doing. I am an artist. So are you.
 

benjiboy

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,953
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
I personally have never considered the question about myself, I do it because that's who I am, like singing in the shower, I don't worry what others think about it.
 

blockend

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Messages
5,049
Location
northern eng
Format
35mm
If photography is an art form, it's a very difficult one. In 35 years of taking photographs, including many people tell me they like, I'd stand by no more than 5 or 6 as being 'art'. They just kind of happened, some magical confluence through the viewfinder when the Gods were being kind.

The rest are just photographs.So I'd admit to being an artist when I took that handful of shots and the rest of the time another guy hauling a camera bag and working up a sweat.
 

JBrunner

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
7,429
Location
PNdub
Format
Medium Format
I photograph for money. Sometimes it makes art. When there is no business, I photograph as a hobbyist. Sometimes it makes art. It's always a craft though. When is it art? When I or someone else says so. That is the only requirement for art, be it a design I found in my cornflakes bowl or a photograph.
 
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