O.k I seem to take some good photos of things/places/people I like (generally) and really enjoy doing it and looking at the results but as soon as I try and get artie with my photos they end up trash. Do you think much like other art you have to have an artistic bent even before you start to make good artistic photos. For me capturing a memory is the most important bit but I do like looking at artistic photos much like I like looking at paintings . Do you consider yourself an artist or a capturer of memories/history.
Your question Always Begs the eternal question.....What is (the definition of) Art.?
Anything done well is AN art...but does that make IT Art.?
The traditional arts are Very Low Tech....painting, sculpting, acting, drawing, dancing, etc etc.
Ever notice that people call themselves a.....Graphic Artist.? Why is that...because of all the Tools/Technology involved.?
There is A LOT of technology/Chemistry/Equipment involved with photography. Ever seen an Ansel Adams negative that was printed without much manipulation in the darkroom.?
Many of those prints would hardly be noticed as the "Original".
Is EVERYBODY that owns a camera a Photographer.?......of course not.
And not Every Photographer is an "Artist".
I really do not have any artistic ability. My photography, at this point (if it even qualifies as "Photography") is Very blue-collar. I like Buildings, Trains, Train Yards, Concert Stages and back-stage, Construction projects and sites, Etc etc etc.
Calling somebody an "Artist" is always a subjective thing.
I lived in San Francisco for almost 20 years. The museums and aquariums and zoo were fee until.....circa 1970. After that they were free on One Wednesday a month. Thank God for that, because 90% of the stuff (IMHO) at The Museum Of Modern "Art"....is garbage and i would hate to have to pay more than A Dollar to see it.
Not sure what all that mess i wrote up there ^^^^^^^^^ means exactly, but......
.......I care more about being a decent Photographer than i do about being any kind of an "Artist".
There. I Said It