You may be a photographer but are you an artist?

[vsyrek1945]

A list that was obviously put together by someone who is not an artist.

Not that it matters a whole lot, but I agree. The exercise is little more than pretentious BS.

I never professed any artistry, but I did want reminders of where I've been, what my children were like growing up, etc.

Ignoring thread henceforth. G'bye . . .

 

[jtk]

"

Sure photography is an art, just like baking bread is an art.

Whenever the outcome is uncertain and decisions have to be made, there is art in the process. The art can be divided into 2 categories: technical art and art of creativity. You can be a great technician and terrible at creativity and vice versa.

If photography was not an art, then one photo would be as good as the next.

"

If you want to call photography "an art" that's OK with me. But I think very few photographers are "artists" just as very few bakers are artists.

I'm almost comfortable, after 60+ years of photography, sometimes perhaps artistic, calling myself an "artist."

The usual reason people label themselves "artist" has to do with the fact that they have no other label for themselves that makes them happy. Who wants to call themselves "bureaucrat" or "grease monkey" or "talking head" ?

 

[Berkeley Mike]

"You must be an artist," comes out of the mouths of people who cannot imagine having created a certain perspective. The effect through immediacy, bypassing qualification, defenses or predispositions, alighting upon the psyche is charm. The marketplace pivots on that. But the charm exists without the market. The question of art, the interpretation, is another market, and is only derivative.

Any image, whether by intention or happenstance, craft or accident, can be art. Need someone make more than one image that is art in order to be an artist; can it be achieved by only on creation? That, too, is derivative.

 

[Arklatexian]

I am an artist. Just not a very good one. I don't worry about it.

The only way that I will ever know that I "might" be an artist is for someone, that I don't know, look at one of my mounted photographs and say to her/his self without thinking, "Damn, I Like That Picture". If no-one ever says that about my work, then I am probably not a photo-artist, no matter how often I say I am..........Regards!

 

[Arklatexian]

The only way that I will ever know that I "might" be an artist is for someone, that I don't know, look at one of my mounted photographs and say to her/his self without thinking, "Damn, I Like That Picture". If no-one ever says that about my work, then I am probably not a photo-artist, no matter how often I say I am..........Regards!

What about the photographer who takes the photographs because the subject was interesting, made prints and after many years a later generation looked at those same prints and called them "art". And they are. That happened to a Louisiana photographer. Fortunately he lived long enough to hear his work called "art" though he, himself, never really considered himself an artist. But he was. I don't think that a person can intentionally "do art". It "happens".......Regards!

 

[guangong]

Reading the title of thread again, in a way owning and using a camera makes someone a photographer, but “artist” should perhaps be considered a title given by others.
That does not preclude someone’s intention of making art.

 

[Arthurwg]

Joseph Beuys told us that every man is an artist - photographers not excluded ...



I think he was wrong about that.

 

[Vaughn]

"Owning a camera makes one a photographer, owning a piano makes one a piano owner." Never have cared much for that saying. Both new owners will find it easy to make noise (audio or visual) in the beginning. Perhaps the beginning photographer is easier to live with (unless the darkroom is the only bathroom), though perhaps now with digital, the beginner can make more visual noise right off the bat. And there are digital keyboards to learn on, so I guess the audio noise has increased, too! All take years to master.

 

[moose10101]

"Owning a camera makes one a photographer, owning a piano makes one a piano owner." Never have cared much for that saying.

I always interpreted it as a sarcastic slap at people who think photography is easy.

 

[Peter Schrager]

"Owning a camera makes one a photographer, owning a piano makes one a piano owner." Never have cared much for that saying. Both new owners will find it easy to make noise (audio or visual) in the beginning. Perhaps the beginning photographer is easier to live with (unless the darkroom is the only bathroom), though perhaps now with digital, the beginner can make more visual noise right off the bat. And there are digital keyboards to learn on, so I guess the audio noise has increased, too! All take years to master.

Of course it's easy..after the first 10000 negatives!

 

[removed account4]

"Owning a camera makes one a photographer, owning a piano makes one a piano owner." Never have cared much for that saying. Both new owners will find it easy to make noise (audio or visual) in the beginning. Perhaps the beginning photographer is easier to live with (unless the darkroom is the only bathroom), though perhaps now with digital, the beginner can make more visual noise right off the bat. And there are digital keyboards to learn on, so I guess the audio noise has increased, too! All take years to master.

vaughn
the trick is to set the bar really really low, thats what i do and its great

 

[Dismayed]

Always choose 'C' if you don't know the answer.

 

[jamesaz]

The ultimate answer to the posted question is for others to decide. However, after self examination my answer regarding myself is: I got some game. Still need to keep practicing, though.

 

[Paul Manuell]

Do any of these questions matter? From an article at Lomography on the same blog:
1. Do you think about why some photos stay in the mind?
2. Are you willing to redefine your world?
3. Are you aware of visual relationships, including minute details?
4. Do you make photos that cannot be repeated?
5. Do you look within yourself for the benefit of your photography?
6. Do you push beyond the limits and confines of the mind?
7. Are you willing to face your fears?



Regards, Art

No, I just take photos I like, there's nothing artistic or creative about me whatsoever.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

"Owning a camera makes one a photographer, owning a piano makes one a piano owner." Never have cared much for that saying. Both new owners will find it easy to make noise (audio or visual) in the beginning. Perhaps the beginning photographer is easier to live with (unless the darkroom is the only bathroom), though perhaps now with digital, the beginner can make more visual noise right off the bat. And there are digital keyboards to learn on, so I guess the audio noise has increased, too! All take years to master.

Good technical photographs, by old technical standards, are much more common with the advent of digital capture. The most frequent criticism seems to be content and overwhelming volume (another form of noise).

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Artist? no.

Marcelo

 

[Down Under]

What, an artist? Moi? Imagine that!

Flikr and Facebook are full of photographers who wannabee artists. I'm not one of them. As if the bar wasn't low enough already.

The following comments by two of the Greats of the genre, aptly sums up my thinking about all this:

“I am not an artist, and I never intended to be one. ... I hope I have made some good photographs, but what I really hope is that I have done some good photo stories with memorable images that make a point, and, perhaps, even make a difference.” (Cornell Capa, 1992).

‘There are two things I wanted to do. I wanted to show the things that needed to be corrected. And I wanted to show the things that needed to be appreciated.” (Lewis Hine)

That about says it all for me.

 

[Vaughn]

Good technical photographs, by old technical standards, are much more common with the advent of digital capture. The most frequent criticism seems to be content and overwhelming volume (another form of noise).

+1!

 

[alentine]

...
In short...if the outcome is uncertain and decisions have to be made, then there is art in the process. This art can be of the creative nature or the technical nature...but it is art none the less.

That makes every Rubik's cube and each Puzzle, a piece of art!!!

 

[removed account4]

That makes every Rubik's cube and each Puzzle, a piece of art!!!

and they are !
===
people should just call themselves whatever they want
like the many self declared geniuses ... when they
talk or lecture or monolog or show their work people ( their audience ) can decide
what they are.

 

[spoolman]

and they are !
===
people should just call themselves whatever they want
like the many self declared geniuses ... when they
talk or lecture or monolog or show their work people ( their audience ) can decide
what they are.

This reminds me of a saying my grade 11 drafting teacher imparted to us"You're the smartest person in the world until you open your mouth then the whole world will know just how smart you really are"

Doug

 

[Vaughn]

...
people should just call themselves whatever they want
like the many self declared geniuses ... when they
talk or lecture or monolog or show their work people ( their audience ) can decide
what they are.

+1!

 

[alentine]

...

Regards, Art

Back to the video,
Particular contents of the photographs, is not enough alone to make good photographs. Otherwise, photos of celebrities or nudes, will become the best art!
Just describing or representing the oddest, bizar, dysmorphism and unusual relations, inside a photo, could be the best photojournalism, but not art.
It just attracts audiences because the contents inside the photo(which has a bizarre nature in its own existence, regardless of photo being captured or not) has been transferred exactly unfamiliar, as it is outside the photos.
Simply, It does not converts the ordinary existed, to a superb, beauty or ugliness.
The best can these photos do, is brain storming and maybe some of undesired not great senses.
Except for pity, the photos do not stimulate any type of emotions that great examples of arts may do.
Just my opinion.

 

[chris77]

just because someone quoted joseph beuys insufficiently.
true, he stated 'everyone is an artist' but he also said this to be true for everyone who exceeds and transforns his/her routine, who breaks out of the 'ordinary pattern' and turns 'nornality' into something special.
in this sense, everYone who is creative by interpretating ir inventing anew whathe sees through the lens and does not simply press the the shutter to see what comes out could call himself an artist.
good or bad, succesful or not is for others to decide .

 

[trendland]

just because someone quoted joseph beuys insufficiently.
true, he stated 'everyone is an artist' but he also said this to be true for everyone who exceeds and transforns his/her routine, who breaks out of the 'ordinary pattern' and turns 'nornality' into something special.
in this sense, everYone who is creative by interpretating ir inventing anew whathe sees through the lens and does not simply press the the shutter to see what comes out could call himself an artist.
good or bad, succesful or not is for others to decide .

Remarqable - just AS I read this older post I felt to state something again on this theme. Something (a bit provocate :that you are an artist if you belive you are)!!!
Now (I just noticed it) Beuys told something simular.

OK - my difference to Beuys is the folowing : There is no need that others see you as artist.
There is no need to create something special. The Definition is : If you simply belive you are - you are indeed an ARTIST !
Beuys feld the same within his early days as he himself wasn't an artist to most others.
It isn't necessary to be real good in your Art to felt as artist of course.

with regards

PS : The Definition sure is on a ground that you have to create something. Or you have to declare something as "creation".
Example : A driver can not say I am an artist every day -I drive my bus and that is Art for sure!
But if he declares his bus Tour as " performance " it is Art. Beuys is right if there have been a need of (to me just a little bit) something different or special.
Costumers would pay to come from A to B and would ASK : What I'd to pay for this special performance....
Beuys came in simular conflict with min. One of his installations.

Is this ART or could that be wasted?