Photography as art

Photography when practiced in its most familiar role can be classified as a Narrative depiction of an existing undisturbed time and place recorded in real time by an external devise most often referred to as a camera. Where the photographers primary role is limited to the operation of the camera an composition of the scene. Here the objects found in the scene are not exclusive to the photographer but are common to all who my photograph the same scene.  This dependency on a camera to record instead of create is what designates  photography as a unique and independent visual plat form. To often a photograph is considered art based soly on the existence of an image. However when one considers how the image was realized a clear and distinct difference can be drawn between Photography and the more traditional arts such as but not limited to drawing, painting and sculpture. Where the artist plays a direct role in the physical application of materials in the creation of a new reality.

Photography’s inherent classification as a Narrative classification, does not mean that it can not be transitioned to represent a  more creative role. However to achieve this the photographer must make fundamental changes to the physical reality of the scene that go beyond the superficial modifications  that only address the appearance of the scene ( such as color, distortion, and texture to mention a few ) .   These changes are accomplished with the introduction of original content, that expresses the image makers emotional point of view. This can be achieved either prier to the recording of the image or in post-production. But despite these changes the fact remains, that the resulting image is a photograph of the art itself, and it is not until the physical scene has been dismantled that the photograph plays a more prominent role as the the art itself. It should also mentioned that while the physical set remains if another, should photograph the same scene, who has not contributed to its authenticity, their image reverts back to the classical Narrative classification.  It is however possible in todays digital world of post-production to produce original content making it the art itself.