My new creative pursuit in photography is to master the art of visual perception. For the past year or so, my mentor, George, has challenged me with arranging and photographing a still life. To the laymen's ears, this pursuit maybe deemed too simple or copying what the Master painters already did perfectly. The inevitable question arises: is photography art? I suppose the answer simply depends on the person inquired. I, of course, believe photography is art. My art; digital photography and art is a new realm that challenges the current postmodernists who lay claim to knowing the difference between 'real art' and non-art(for lack of a better word). My personal view looks at the whole work incorporating both the contextual, the technique, and finished piece display and all. Art is because the creative authentically produces work with the 'magic' that viewers encounter grabbed by a feeling from the work.
Many, many days I have spent in my small studio arranging and rearranging objects that initially copied Cezanne, eventually incorporating my favorite objects that represent a piece of me. Now, I copying a Master like Cezanne is possible in Photoshop, but I was not interested in sitting for hours manipulating. I mean hours. I wanted to create with my camera and my knowledge of my equipment and experimenting. I have mountains of paper sketches that could keep a Mainer warm through most of the winter. I yelled into empty space. The simple act of still life creation became an obsession. Add that to my unyielding path to become a Master Photographer and months later, I feel I have found that indeed my photography is art.
All challengers are welcome to stop by the studio and have a hand at arranging.
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