Is a photographer an artist?

“You might not think that programmers are artists, but programming is an extremely creative profession. It's logic-based creativity”. John Romero

My father explained to me the other day that many painters do not consider photographers artists. The theory is (I assume) that they are simply taking a picture of a moment and are not truly using any artistic talent to create art.

Now before I disagree, or before I get all the photographers up in arms, let’s look at the dictionary definition of ‘artist’:

1. A person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby
2. A person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker
3. A person skilled at a particular task or occupation.

So according to the dictionary photographers are artists (assuming they fall into the ‘creative arts’ bracket). However, I am sure this will not convince painters.

So what is art?

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Pablo Picasso

I think Picasso has captured the essence of art perfectly. Art to me is something that I do not see in my mundane life, but something that moves me emotionally when I view it. It could be the musings of a poet – it could be the dance of the ballerina, or the lyrics of a great song writer. All of these are considered art.

Photography, like any other profession, can lead to great art. While I don’t consider photography to be mundane, there is art in the mundane. The presentation of a great chef, or the performance of a great sports player can be artist – something that takes skill, and creates beauty is art (in my opinion).

So is photography art?

I have never considered myself an artist; I produce photographs that vary in quality that appeal to some people. I have managed to capture emotive photographs, as well as beautiful photographs, but I still wouldn’t consider these photos as art. (The photo attached to this post is emotive - it capture a moment in a zoo where I truly felt empathy for a creature in its prison. I deliberately left the chain link fence in the photo and took it through two pieces of wood so that I felt as i I was peeking into despair)

A photograph, as it stands, is not necessarily art – what makes it art is when the photographer produces something that is more visceral or more emotive than a normal photograph.

As an example – I have taken many photographs of people – but they are simply pictures. Annie Leibovitz has taken photographs of people, and found a rawness and a soul – her photographs are art.

Is a photographer an artist?

So is a photographer an artist? Most photographers are not, but some are!

Is all photography art – no. Is some photography art – absolutely!