Are you an artist?

[dave lackey]

Do you consider yourself an artist? I know a number of people here do...not just a "photographer".

How do you define the term "artist" within the photographic context?

 

[dave lackey]

As I have been thinking about this question, many things about being an artist have crossed my mind.

Then, I came across this article and thought about how terrible it would be for your own art to kill you!😱

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/arts/design/02hors.html?_r=2&ref=design

 

[Ronald M]

To the extent I use light to shape and define the subject and use my darkroom or photoshop to further refine the imeage, I am an artist.

I can`t paint, but a Wacom tablet would allow some serious computer painting.

 

[Keith]

Dave ... suggesting people make a self assessment over such an issue is really opening up a can of worms in my opinion ... a few will do it but will often as not be wrong in their assessments.

There are a lot of artists in the area where I live who are talented in many ways and I can only imagine where this talent comes from. Sculptors painters illustrators musicians, you name it, we seem to have them all ... not one other dedicated photographer that I know of though.

A while ago our community had a competition asking parents to photograph their children for a local playgroup publication ... a calender from memory. The best submissions were displayed at our local hall and I went along for a look ... some of the photographs were stunningly good and the best were noticably done by people who were actually artists in some other area apart from photography.

Photography without artistic intent is really just reportage or a display of technical proficiency in my opinion and I believe that this is what the majority of us here are. The true artists stand out ... be it with camera, brush, violin, or whatever!

 

[OurManInTangier]

I hope that there is some form of artistic merit to my pictures. I hope that my senses, emotions and instinct form the things around me into a vision that others would wish to spend time viewing. I hope that I'm capable of making images that are layered and multi dimensional.

Yet at no point do I consider myself an artist. I'm merely a photographer, one that does jobs to pay my bills and one that tries to use photography as a language to communicate with others. Some of this can be applied to artists but no, me...I'm a photographer.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I've always considered myself a technician rather than an artist where photography is concerned. I've done this long enough that I can make the medium do anything I want it to, but creating completely new things from whole cloth is for others to do.

I've done shows in galleries, but I don't consider what I do "art."

 

[morback]

I am not an artist.
I am not a graphic designer.
I am not a photographer.

I'm Martin, pleased to make your acquaintance.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Yeah, graphic designers are a whole 'nuther thing. I work everyday with a graphic designer and, even though I know Photoshop probably as well as she does, she can make that program ( and Illustrator) work magic!

 

[Ronald M]

I thought I would put up some artistic effects

Originals are photos modified with Painter Essentials 3 and a mouse

 

[JOE1951]

I've never considered myself an "artist". Just "photographer", and lately, not even that.

It's something of a stigma that I've internalized growing up. It might be my working class upbringing, growing up in a military family, that always associated "ART" and artists as elitist, superficial, pretentious, etc.

I personally don't think that about "art" and the "artists" I know, film-makers, painters, actors, graphic designers, etc., who also seem hesitant about referring to themselves as artists, but might if it means making a buck and presenting themselves a certain way to client$.

I've had other people call me an artist, that's OK...whatever, I've been called worse ;-), but I personally don't refer to myself as one.

 

[dave lackey]

Interesting....even wikipedia supports the idea that photography is art (or can be); musicians are artists; dancers are artists;...

So, why is it some are hesitant to be called artists or what they do to be considered art?

 

[pesphoto]

I just do what I like and its up to others to place labels.

 

[Ronald M]

#2 picture

 

[Al Kaplan]

I don't think that it's possible to draw that firm line seperating "fine" art from commercial art. In the end the decision is made by museum curators, gallery owners, and collectors...the people with the checkbooks.

It has nothing to do with the photographer's intent when making the photograph. Another factor is style. Yes, art goes through periods where one thing is fashionable, and then another.

One thing still unresolved in the photographic art world is whether a traditional wet process print is more valuable than a "machine made" print using digital printing technology. In other media, such as etchings, lithographs, or serigraphs, a hand pulled print by the artist has a lot more value than the same image coming out of a printing press or via some digital printing technology. The hand pulled print is considered "art" while the others are "reproductions".

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Yes, I am an artist. I do fine art photography, I exhibit in art galleries and my work has been in art museum exhibits, and I have an art degree. I'm an artist, photography is the medium I prefer to work in.

 

[Yammerman]

I'd like to define myself so but I believe I am more of a dilettante.

 

[dazedgonebye]

It's sort of in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? From where I stand, I don't think I produce "art" reliably enough to consider myself an artist.

I echo what Keith said about artists who work in other mediums and take up a camera. I have an aquaintance from another forum who was a total camera idiot. I helped her for several weeks with the technical aspects of photography and she still doesn't understand half of what's going on when she pushes the shutter.
Her work stands head and shoulders above my own and has since week 2 of her photographic experience. She is an artist, and would produce art no matter what you put in her hands.

 

[thinkfloyd]

IMHO, I think calling myself an artist is wrong... I'm a photographer yes, a musician and writer too by profession and trade... but I never call myself an artist. I think it's up to my audience whether to brand me an artist or not...

 

[Michael Da Re]

Interesting....even wikipedia supports the idea that photography is art (or can be); musicians are artists; dancers are artists;...

So, why is it some are hesitant to be called artists or what they do to be considered art?

I believe it's called being humble. A lot of extraordinary artist grace forum everyday in my opinion.

Mike D.

 

[MickH]

I used to be referred to as an artist of sorts, but since I've given up the drink that description no longer fits.