The Joy of Light

“Light makes photography. Admire it. Love it. But, above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”

I have always felt that photography, in the right hands, is an artform. However, sometimes it is hard to tell when, and how, the craft of photography can become an art and whether a particular image meets that criteria. I have often thought a lot about this in my own photography. And that is the subject of this Blog: how do I find the Art in Photography and how do I know when I have found it?

I hope you find my thoughts on the subject entertaining and, occasionally, informative.

You will notice that I have not included a way for you to directly engage in comments or argument about my comments. I don’t want to be in the position of having to police comments or censor people views or way of expressing themselves. I am too old for that. However, if you wish to engage with me directly  go over to the “Contact Me” page and drop me a line. I try to answer all of the comments I receive and If I find feedback that helps me develop my own thinking I will write about it here.

Inspiration

Inspiration

noun in·spi·ra·tion \ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\ : something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone In one of the many e-mail newsletters I get, usually crafted...

read more
The Collector

The Collector

So, the other day my daughter calls me with a problem: she has cameras, lots of them, and she is planning to put them in the dumpster. Do I want to see them, Dad? Well …. Hell yes! Kathleen’s father-in-law, Bill, died recently and my daughter and her husband are...

read more
My Fourth Camera

My Fourth Camera

In my last year of high school I worked part time in a photo store in the Humbertown Mall in Etobicoke which was a suburb of Toronto. It was a great job and a great place to learn more about photography. One day a consignment came in to be sold: a Leica M-3 with 50mm...

read more
Peter Lik

Peter Lik

Peter Lik is a photographer’s photographer. I've been in his galleries in Lahaina, in Honolulu, and in Las Vegas and I love them. He has other galleries and a list of them is on his website. According to his bio he is an Australian who, like me, was given a brownie...

read more
Caught in the Web

Caught in the Web

Three years ago when I decided to create a photography website and blog I thought it would be easy. A domain name and web hosting would cost about ten dollars a month: at least this is what the ads led you to believe. Wordpress was free and easy. Well, it was free and...

read more
Photography the Hobby

Photography the Hobby

Reading over what I wrote in my post on “Looking at Art” it has occurred to me that possibly I’m becoming a snob! At least it may seem that way. I assure you it is not intentional. But all this talk about “art” may suggest that I don’t see any other purpose for...

read more
Looking at Art

Looking at Art

If we are seeking the connection between art and photography, perhaps we should not look just at the “photography”: perhaps we should also be looking at the "art". In any equation we have to treat each side the same. And so I have developed the habit of seeking out...

read more
But is it Photography?

But is it Photography?

So here is the question this week: is it photography? Well, maybe I should back up a bit. This past week I received an e-mail ad for a new Topaz plugin called Impression. The blurb said that it could turn photographs into art. Well, I am skeptical of these claims....

read more

New Year 2015

A new year is like a blank sheet of paper: wonderful to hold and daunting when you consider its possibilities. I remember buying my school supplies with my mother and I loved to get home and put all that new blue lined three ring punched paper into my shiny...

read more
Thoughts on 500px

Thoughts on 500px

This website was conceived as a place to display my photography. It has transformed itself into a place for thinking about my photography and has become a wonderful tool for working out my own feelings about my hobby. It has been an excellent exercise and I expect it...

read more
Out in the Woods

Out in the Woods

If you go out in the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise ....... well, if you're my age you know that song. It has to do with picnics and teddy bears. But I'm thinking that if you go out in the woods today with your camera you're in...

read more
100 Images of Italy 2014

100 Images of Italy 2014

I have just returned from a month in Italy and it is good to be back. But now comes the work. In addition to all of the other things I have to do, I have 5300, give or take, photos to sort through and organize. No easy task. We travelled...

read more

Follow the Art on Facebook

If you’re interested in Photography as Art “Follow” us on Facebook . Get news of what we’re doing sent to you when we post something new![spacer height=”20px”]
Facebook Page