In this age of creative image-making, more and more photographers consider themselves artists. Some photographers use new computer imaging programs to create fanciful images born out of dreams, while purists use age-old techniques to create new-age works of art.
But are all pictures works of art? To help answer this question, the following imaging experts offer their opinions:J. Tom Lopez, associate professor, Photography-Digital Program, University of Miami -- "When a photographer makes an image that is technically excellent and has strong intellectual and emotional content, it may be art. When a photographer makes an image about a thing he or she knows and comments, editorializes, deconstructs or forms value judgments based on personal experience, it gets closer to art. But when a photographer makes an image that transmits that awareness of the world, and if he is critically self-aware of his own response to that issue, then I think that photographer is an artist."
Jill Enfield, a leading free-lance photographer -- "The art of taking pictures involves a strong element of subjectivity. A personal statement is made when choosing the elements to include or exclude in a photograph. Choosing exactly when to release the shutter is another personal choice.
"Today, the boundaries are being blurred between snapshots, art, photojournalism, commercial work and so forth. All can be seen in galleries and magazines, and all can have arguments for and against as to what is and what is not art."
Patrick Keough, photography-art history instructor, Cateret Community College, Morehead City, N.C. -- "Artists and photographers constantly struggle with similar conceptual issues throughout the image-art making process. A viable work of art -- a painting, sculpture or photograph -- is the product of some form of previsualization.
"I personally see no real distinction between the art of photography, sculpture, painting and architecture. The artistic journey always begins in the mind and heart of the artist. The tools may be different, but the end product is the same."