Capturing a good (or great or once-in-a-lifetime) image that only needs minimal post processing is the aim of everybody here, including the most active photo artists, I'm pretty sure. And when I sit down at my computer, load my images and see something good there it definitely gives me a feeling of, "Yes!!" I greatly enjoy the entire process of photography.
But I've just in the last few days realized that to touch me really deeply and bring a really deep sense of satisfaction, that takes photo art. For me, photo art isn't something to do while I learn to capture great images.
I think that if I ever were to print any of my images and put them on a wall, they would likely almost all be my photo art images. They're the ones that really make me smile.
Before NPN I never knew there was a thing as photo art. I'm really glad that NPN has a Photo Art Gallery, and I'm thankful to David Kelly for moderating it. It has enriched my life.
Posted by Bill Chambers on August 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Barbara, that's what the whole photo journey is all about. When I first started shooting nature images, I thought I wanted to shoot mostly wildlife, but one day my eyes were opened when I realized that 90+% of what I was shooting was landscapes! You would think it would be obvious, but actually it was quite a surprise. Ain't photography fun???
Judging from your photo art images I've seen, you should be proud to hang them on any wall.
Posted by Brad Mangas on August 17, 2011 at 9:01 PM
One should never assume what the aim of a creative mind is. To base the success or failure of an image on the amount of processing it needs is extremely limited in discovery of ones self or their craft and I believe misses the whole point on why most chose photography as a creative expression to begin with. Processing really has nothing to do with whether an images has personal meaning to the photographer. To place limits on something whether you chose to call it art or not is to do just that, "limit" it and it's ultimate expression.
This is similar to the age old debate on how much is too much and I have no desire to go there, that is simply a waste of time. But if digital art is what turns your crank Barbara more power to you.
Posted by Barb Pflaum on August 17, 2011 at 9:15 PM
Barbara, I agree with you that photo art is very enjoyable. I enjoy being able to create pictures the way I envision them using photos as a starting point. I always wished I had the talent to be a painter and photo art lets me be creative in some of the same ways that painting would. Sometimes with photo art I can even show the way the scene felt to me, not just how it looked.
Bill, I had an experience similar to yours, but the opposite. I would go out planning to shoot intimate landscapes and flowers, but I would come home with many photos of butterflies, turtles, birds, squirrels, etc. I still shoot landscapes and flowers sometimes, but I often go to places that are known to have a lot of wildlife and I'm enjoying photography even more.
Brad, I'm not sure what you thought I was saying, but I certainly wasn't making any of the statements you made. I made that post to express something I had just discovered about myself, not to make any other statement of any kind. I've just re-read my post after reading yours, and I just don't see anything else there except a post about my discovery of and love of photo art and my appreciation of NPN and David.
Barbara I appreciate your post and I thank you for your kind words. I love photo art because it gives us a chance to let our inner creativity out. I am so glad that we live in this era where we have all of these great tools to work with. I like straight forward photography but it is great to add a little bit of ourselves to the image.
There is definitely a place for photo art.Before digital, I don't think it was possible, but now, there is no limit to one's creativity. Even bad photos can become great art using great filters and software. When one paints, you use many photographs to create one painting, when you do photo art you create from a photograph/photographs to bring to life what you imagine. Photo art to me is glorious, I"m just not good at it. I have tho, seen some photo art posted on here to die for. "Well almost" ha,ha, Well spoken Barbara.
I'm glad a few others know the feeling of satisfaction you get when you create a piece of photo art. Yes, the process begins with one or more of your photographs, but the end result is more personal and thus gives a greater feeling of pride. Enjoy!
Discussion
7 repliesBut I've just in the last few days realized that to touch me really deeply and bring a really deep sense of satisfaction, that takes photo art. For me, photo art isn't something to do while I learn to capture great images.
I think that if I ever were to print any of my images and put them on a wall, they would likely almost all be my photo art images. They're the ones that really make me smile.
Before NPN I never knew there was a thing as photo art. I'm really glad that NPN has a Photo Art Gallery, and I'm thankful to David Kelly for moderating it. It has enriched my life.
Judging from your photo art images I've seen, you should be proud to hang them on any wall.
This is similar to the age old debate on how much is too much and I have no desire to go there, that is simply a waste of time. But if digital art is what turns your crank Barbara more power to you.
Bill, I had an experience similar to yours, but the opposite. I would go out planning to shoot intimate landscapes and flowers, but I would come home with many photos of butterflies, turtles, birds, squirrels, etc. I still shoot landscapes and flowers sometimes, but I often go to places that are known to have a lot of wildlife and I'm enjoying photography even more.