Photography
Photography: The art or practice of taking and processing photographs
Photography as Art Today photography is widely recognized as a fine art. Photographs are displayed in art museums, prized by collectors, discussed by critics, and studied in art history courses. Because of the special nature of photography, however, this was not always the case. In the early days of photography some people considered the medium something of a poor relation to the older, established visual arts, such as drawing and painting. The arguments stemmed from the fact that a camera is a mechanical instrument. Because the mechanical procedure of taking a picture is automatic, detractors claimed that photography required no coordination of hand and eye and none of the manual skills essential to drawing and painting. They also argued that photography required no creativity or imagination because the photographic subject was "ready-made" and did not require manipulation or control by the photographer.
A camera, no matter how many automatic features it may have, is a lifeless piece of equipment until a person uses it. It then becomes a uniquely responsive tool--an extension of the photographer's eye and mind. A photographer creates a picture by a process of selection. Photographers looking through the camera's viewfinder must decide what to include and what to exclude from the scene. They select the distance from which to take the picture and the precise angle that best suits their purpose. They select the instant in which to trip the shutter. This decision may require hours of patient waiting until the light is exactly right or it may be a split-second decision, but the photographer's sense of timing is always crucial. Photographers can expand or flatten perspective by the use of certain lenses. They can freeze motion or record it as a blur, depending on their choice of shutter speed. They can create an infinite number of lighting effects with flashes or floodlights. They can alter the tonal values or colors in a picture by their choice of film and filters. These are only a few of the controls available to a photographer when taking a picture. Later, in the darkroom, many additional choices are available.
One of the best ways to view artistic photographs is to visit museums. Today most art museums include photography exhibitions, and many have a photography department and a permanent collection of photographic prints. This is a relatively recent development. Another great way to view photographs is to look at a quality magaznie like National Geographic.
From History of Photography - School Curriculum in Photography
A camera, no matter how many automatic features it may have, is a lifeless piece of equipment until a person uses it. It then becomes a uniquely responsive tool--an extension of the photographer's eye and mind. A photographer creates a picture by a process of selection. Photographers looking through the camera's viewfinder must decide what to include and what to exclude from the scene. They select the distance from which to take the picture and the precise angle that best suits their purpose. They select the instant in which to trip the shutter. This decision may require hours of patient waiting until the light is exactly right or it may be a split-second decision, but the photographer's sense of timing is always crucial. Photographers can expand or flatten perspective by the use of certain lenses. They can freeze motion or record it as a blur, depending on their choice of shutter speed. They can create an infinite number of lighting effects with flashes or floodlights. They can alter the tonal values or colors in a picture by their choice of film and filters. These are only a few of the controls available to a photographer when taking a picture. Later, in the darkroom, many additional choices are available.
One of the best ways to view artistic photographs is to visit museums. Today most art museums include photography exhibitions, and many have a photography department and a permanent collection of photographic prints. This is a relatively recent development. Another great way to view photographs is to look at a quality magaznie like National Geographic.
From History of Photography - School Curriculum in Photography
My Photography
For me, photography has always been a form of art. Our planet is beautiful and I have always found a love in taking pictures of nature. I usually take my photos with my cell phone (Android HTC), which has an 8 megapixel camera. I have taken thousands of photos, but I selected my favorites to share below. My students, when the time is right, will receive a camera and take photos whenever the mood strikes them. That is the beautiful of photography, that we all have the ability, individually, to record what is beautiful to them.
My Nature Photos
My Photo Collages
I took these with my cell phone camera, using the Photo Grid - Collage Maker App from the Google Play Store. Family means everything to me and I decided to make a few collages of some of my favorite moments.
My Creative & Artistic Photos
Words from a Professional Photographer
Andrew Gibson, a writer and photography provides a wonderful and personal description of what photography means to him. He says: A friend of mine once told me that the place she lived in is boring. That may be true, but I think what she was really saying is that she lacks something to do in her spare time. Life is better when we have a purpose, something interesting to look forward to at the weekend. Photography gives me that sense of purpose.
Photography also gives me creative fulfilment. It helps me express myself artistically, and that’s a wonderful thing. Creativity is a major part of my life. I write articles and ebooks for a living, and built a website to support the business...Creativity is strongly linked with purpose...Photography also gives me a reason to travel and explore new places...Photography also helps me meet new people...This has helped make my life more interesting, and I’m grateful for that...On a deeper level photography helps me see the beauty in the world. I feel awe when I see other people’s beautiful photos. It creates an awareness of just how big, diverse and beautiful our planet is. It inspires me by giving me ideas about places I’d like to travel to in the future, or photos that I’d like to take for myself. Someone suggested to me once that photographers, as artists, are privileged to be able to see and record some of the beauty in the world. It’s an interesting idea, and while some photographers do concentrate on photographing the ugly side of life, for those of us that search out the beauty in the world it’s an enriching experience....Photography is a journey, on both personal and literal levels... From The Photo Argus
Photography also gives me creative fulfilment. It helps me express myself artistically, and that’s a wonderful thing. Creativity is a major part of my life. I write articles and ebooks for a living, and built a website to support the business...Creativity is strongly linked with purpose...Photography also gives me a reason to travel and explore new places...Photography also helps me meet new people...This has helped make my life more interesting, and I’m grateful for that...On a deeper level photography helps me see the beauty in the world. I feel awe when I see other people’s beautiful photos. It creates an awareness of just how big, diverse and beautiful our planet is. It inspires me by giving me ideas about places I’d like to travel to in the future, or photos that I’d like to take for myself. Someone suggested to me once that photographers, as artists, are privileged to be able to see and record some of the beauty in the world. It’s an interesting idea, and while some photographers do concentrate on photographing the ugly side of life, for those of us that search out the beauty in the world it’s an enriching experience....Photography is a journey, on both personal and literal levels... From The Photo Argus