WHAT SOME HAVE SAID:  As you know, I like to play with PhotoShop. Some have implied to me that photographic art created in PhotoShop is not photography – and maybe should not be part of our photo galleries. This Friday I will post on our PHOTO HAPPENINGS (photohappenings.com) a piece of Photo Art created by Jim Hennigar.

OOPS Thursday 9/22 update – I shifted my schedule a little – Keep checking  photohappenings.com – It will be a couple of days beyond Friday before I get Jim Hennigar’s created photo posted there.

MY HOPE FOR THE CLUB: I hope Jim’s work will peak the interest of some members in our Photo Club to think about creating by using their Camera and PhotoShop as integrated tools.

I will pass on some of my own pondering and conclusion.

One of my own creations – using my own photographs – I call it “Singing for your supper”  This may have gone too far. But why?

MY PONDERING:   As I enjoy my lazy days on Drummond  with too much time on my hands, I ponder my photo club hobby while I am doing my non photo hobbies – horses, gardens, property maintenance, canoeing , etc. — This week, I pondered the complex question “How does one define the line between photography and art?” or even better yet “Is there a line between photography and art – other then the media and equipment used to produce it?”

If photography is the act of recording reality, then, that would be creating a photograph which recorded the view as seen by a 20-20 human eye. – right?

When we, the photographer, selects an aperture to control depth of field to blur the background, did we leave 20-20 photography and step into the realm of art.

If we shoot in black and white, is it photography because it is possibly the way a 20-20 color blind person may see reality?

How about doing still photography and setting flowers on the table – arranging them in a pleasing way – did we just photograph a setting of art?

If we crop out of a photo a distracting tree branch is that art – or suppose we use Photoshop to erase the branch?

Suppose I used a technique called “burning” in PhotoShop to darken the background to create depth and focus on a foreground subject – did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

If I copied a rose bud to fill in void in a photo of a bouquet of roses at the wedding  – or used PhotoShop to remove the blemish on the cheek of the bride – did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

If I added to my photo of the fountain at the entrance to Hidden Lakes a mourning dove stopping for a drink of water, did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

Jim Hennigar did more then add one bird. Did he go too far?

WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH?– One, two, maybe three, …… is OK before it is too much?

MY CONCLUSION:  My conclusion, after much pondering – It is all art – The camera and our knowledge of what makes an outstanding photo are the tools and skills that we use to create photo art using our camera adjustments and our post processing computer. – Each photographer must decide for themselves how much is too much. What ever your answer, it is the right answer — for yourself!!!  For me, my conclusion is: “It is never too much.”

Check photoappenings.com on Friday and see what Jim Hennigar created.

OOPS Thursday 9/22 update – I shifted my schedule a little – Keep checking  photohappenings.com – It will be a couple of days beyond Friday before I get Jim Hennigar’s created photo posted.

What is art – check it out on Google –  one definition is: “Art is the expression of creative skills and imagination, in a visual image, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty, or their emotional power.” It gives a reason and does not limit the tools.

What is a photograph – check it out on Google –  one definition is: “A visual image produced with a camera”  It gives the tool and does not limit the reason.

Link back to http://photohappenings.com