What Makes it art, when it simply could be a snapshot?

[MaximusM3]

That is ok. I use XTOL replenished. Published results disagree with them. We know the XTOL is better. I just don't want to smoke whatever they are smokin'!

Are you referring to that silly Kodak chart again, Steve?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Moi?

 

[removed account4]

Are you referring to that silly Kodak chart again, Steve?

silly is right, all those charts are a WOT

 

[Aristophanes]

All I know is that Xtol sucks...

If, like, someone put that on a t-shirt and then took a photo of it with a Holga...and then printed it real big, like big enuf to use that special 120 film proper...

I think that would be art.

 

[removed account4]

If, like, someone put that on a t-shirt and then took a photo of it with a Holga...and then printed it real big, like big enuf to use that special 120 film proper...

I think that would be art.

and if they processed it in extol, it would be suckiart.
of course, if they processed in dammitol, ( no documentation needed )

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have been looking at a few images from Stephen Shore over the last few days. My wife was peaking over my shoulder this morning and comment "What makes these special? Aren't they just snapshots?" She was commenting on his shot US93, Kingman AZ - http://www.jacksonfineart.com/private_artist.php?id=53&imageid=154

I have to admit, that his did start my own questioning on what is art and what is a snapshot? While I actually enjoy Shore's work (I like images that you must explore and not simply just look at), I do see my wifes point.

So, who decides that imagery like this is art? Does it come down to the effort put in? Does it come down to the strength of previous work? Or are we like sheep - I.E., if someone says it's good we all then think it must be good? (I believe he had connections with Warhol)

Just some random thoughts

Cheers

It's art when you, the artist say it is and it is fine-art when someone agrees and is willing to pay for it; There is no better critique then the guy with the money.

 

[macfred]

Snapshot aesthetic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapshot_aesthetic
I love snapshots and often they are art to me.

 

[blockend]

Snapshot means different things to people. Family snapshots can be very formal, with everyone looking at the camera and only the focus or print quality to separate it from traditional portraiture. Or it can mean unintentional framing. What "serious" photographers and curators mean by snapshot aesthetic isn't the same thing as amateurs who see casual framing as a failure.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Back to OP where OP has reference to the picture, to me it is not a snapshot, it is crapshot. Because it is crappy. It could be art for sure, but here is no light in it.

If you look at some recognized photogs pictures, which could be, mistakenly, described as snapshot, the light has quality in them.
Or would it be classic lomography, which is snapshot by its principals. Many good lomography pictures are like art. Because they are spontaneous, yet, with play, good light and art like colors.

Good light could be from crappy flash and art like colors are not with perfect WB IMO

 

[Sirius Glass]

Photographs are composed. Snapshots are just grabbed shot. Some are good. Most not so much.

 

[removed account4]

Well, I must have missed something, because your arguments are the reason I switched from Rodinal to Xtol.

i hope in the 6 years since you posted that to this thread
you changed back .. can't stand xtol ...

worker, i found the tweezers and my pony ..

bdial,
yeah more money in DF, and you know i keep the sweet stuff for myself ..

 

[Arklatexian]

i hope in the 6 years since you posted that to this thread
you changed back .. can't stand xtol ...

worker, i found the tweezers and my pony ..

bdial,
yeah more money in DF, and you know i keep the sweet stuff for myself ..

Which pony are we talking about? Is it the brown and white or black and white Shetland that those of us of a certain age were photographed on dressed as a "cowboy" or "cowgirl" that our parents paid Depression Era Dollars for a picture? From experience, in this case, these pictures were definitely not "snap-shots". Your parents (usually your mother) made an appointment to have that picture made as did most of the other mothers in the neighborhood. During the Great Depression, these ponies and the pictures made kept some photographers going when there was no other business........Regards!

 

[removed account4]

hi oldtimermetoo
i was refering to frank's pigmy pony
that he rode off into the sunset riding
like any sensible dental floss tycoon
living in montana would do ..
rumor has it that tina and the ikettes
were singing back up vocals for the
original recording