Art!  The Perspective in the Creative Process, Part VI:

"From the Approach of Photography" (1st Take)


Gordon Pryor

September, 2006
 
     
     
 
 
     
  This will be the first of 2 installments on the medium of Photography, with regards to the
history, background, devolvement, etc. of the medium itself; while the 2nd installment will be
a direct response / point of view in facture, from two different working artists in the field.

“…But that’s not really a true art form…”

Indeed…

Still a dilemma in the genre for many, and it’s been said repeatedly through the years.  
However, I’m inclined to look at it from the perspective that enough profound and excellent
work has been and is done with the subject, that it speaks for itself without the need of
qualifier...“You know it when you see it!” Historical information on the subject presents
several people that share the credit for the actual invention of the medium itself in the early
1800’s, as well as others experimenting with associated optical, chemical & surface
involvement.  Even centuries before experiments were being done.

In the 16th & 17th century, images were being projected on to paper and glass with early
cameras.  The invention of the ‘pinhole’ camera is credited to even some centuries before
that*, and by the late 1830’s-40’s it was rolling right along.  Criticism was there at the outset
of course.  Often denounced, poked, and mocked in relevance, conception, significance,
etc. along with other assorted bits of preconceived snobbery and lack of foresight,
individuals work continued on…

And even after a century’s time henceforth, some still find the medium held-up for unyielding  
preconceptions and criticisms in it’s legitimacy as an Art form.  Webster’s defines
photography as ‘
the art or process of producing images on a sensitized surface (as a film)
by the action of radiant energy and esp. light
’…Too often people lose the realization of the
profound manifestations of range, uniqueness, presence, vision, and often the grand
magnificence and communication that are at times captured within the medium itself.  And,
in failing to realize <or better yet, in failure to understand>, that there are many facets to Art
(i.e. the variations of forms) that possibly didn’t exist or were not yet utilized at a given time
or place, i.e. instruments not yet created or used in one part of the world or another, or
materials not available; as with the electronically generated sounds and images that could
not have existed 400 years ago.  But in their time (this) and in the future, they will have
produced a relevant contribution of form in creativity that effects and inspires different taste
of the social milieu of the day.  And as our evolution continues, so will other forms of art
maintain a distinct & poignant reflection of where, how, and what, the present / past world of
what defines and represents what Art is.  

Questions of legitimacy and representation are a part of the very nature of new & old  forms.
When not following or mimicking specific traditions or procedure, or not being congruent
with the excepted norm, people will often scoff, and the Photography’s take on things is no
exception.


*Taken from sources: (1) The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Edition 2004. (2) History of the Camera, at the site-
CameraManual.com.
 
     
     
     
  NEXT:

ART!  THE PERSPECTIVE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS,
PART VII
 
     
  ALSO READ  PART I ,  PART II ,  PART III , PART IV  , PART V TO GORDON'S ARTICLE
 
     
     
 
Please Send Us Your Feedback
* Required Field
Your name:
*
Email:
*
Company:
Job title:
Subject:
Questions, comments, or feedback:
*
   
     
  DAGOGO©2006