Photography has always struggled to be defined as fine art. Although it is a medium and a piece of work, the artist’s talent or purpose can sometimes be unclear. In the age of Instagram and smartphones, it seems as though anyone can be an artist. Some “photographers” apply every filter to a photo and call the result art. Besides, what is a picture but a reproductive medium that freezes something in time?
Is photography actually art then? Consider this quote I stumbled across: “Art lives in the tension between abstraction and description.” Not all photography is art. But according to the quote’s idea, that which provides a context (description) leaves enough room for interpretation (abstraction). If the artist has created a photograph with the purpose of expression and the ability to leave an experience for the viewer to engage in, then I think that photograph is art.
Here are five tips for creating some unforgettable photos:
- Follow your vision
Keep your eye out for things you’re instinctively drawn to; you see better if you’re looking. Keep your camera on you at all times to capture the moments that strike you, and don’t set limits! Staged photographs create pictures, not art. Look for the unexpected and the natural; they create the most artistic output. - Consider angles and lighting
Take several photos of the same thing from unique angles; you never know what results you’ll get! They’ll also help you capture various versions of light. Natural lighting does wonders, especially the first and last hours of sunlight. - Your camera doesn’t matter and neither does technique
When you’re just starting out, you need to get a feel for seeing, feeling, composition, and lighting. You don’t need to waste time figuring out what each number on your advanced camera means. You might spend so long setting it up that the photographic moment will have passed. If you follow tip one, you’ll be able to take a great photo. You can always use Photoshop to enhance your photo’s meaning later. - Alternate between color and black and white
Color is always striking, but nothing gives off such an artistic quality like black and white photographs. Lack of color can actually say a lot about its subject. - Don’t ask why something is there, ask how you can make it meaningful
Photographs are always better when they hold meaning or expression. If your photo says something and makes its viewer think, then you will have real art.
And guess what? You can take artsy photographs without Instagram and your smartphone. If you’re somewhere cool this spring break, try it out! They make the best, and cheapest, souvenirs.