Photography has always been a medium for documenting events and historical moments, but is photography a tool for recording images or can it be considered a form of art?
Real photography goes beyond simply mechanically recording an image and requires a deep engagement of the photographer’s mind and heart with the subject.
It is also very helpful for young photographers to first understand why they want to take photos and that becoming a photographer just to make money is not necessarily the right way.
“Professional photos may be beautiful, but artistic photos shake the human soul.” – Robert Frank
I’ve been taking photos for years. In fact, I’ve been taking photos for 65 years.
Ever since I started taking photos, or rather, since photography became popular, the hot debate has been whether photography is art or not.
Is Photography Art?
These are part of the words of Edward Steichen, the famous American photographer, which he said in a speech and we will discuss it later.
Who is Edward Steichen, the famous American photographer?
Edward Steichen[wiki] He is considered one of the pioneers and great innovators in the field of photography in America. He was born in Luxembourg in 1879 and began photography at the age of 15.
Steichen made photography a recognized art form by creating innovative and original works. He also served as a photographer for the United States Army during World War I and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.
Portraiture and still life photography were among the styles in which Steichen excelled. His works are held in prestigious museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Steichen died in 1973 at the age of 95, but his profound impact on modern photography continues to this day.
Photography is A Job or an Art?
Edward Steichen, the renowned American photographer, gives a speech in which he shares his views and experiences on photography.
He believes that real photography goes beyond simply recording an image and requires a deep engagement of the photographer’s mind and heart with the subject. A photo becomes alive and meaningful when the photographer carefully and sensitively selects the subject and puts all of their experience into it.
Steichen encourages young photographers to first define the reason for becoming a photographer. He believes that photography is not a suitable way to make a living.
In his opinion, organization and concept transfer are the main pillars of photography. The photographer should try to convey the intended concept with the right organization.
Steichen also criticizes common photography training, which focuses more on technical aspects than artistic and conceptual aspects. He recommends that young photographers pursue another career to gain experience.
Photography should not be seen as just a medium. The photographer should have their own personal perspective and avoid mere imitation. The style of photography is the result of constant effort and work, not simply the blending of the photographer’s personality and the image.
Steichen hopes that his words will inspire future generations of photographers to pursue photography as a meaningful art and not simply as a profession to make a living.
Table comparing the differences between industrial and artistic photography
In the table below, the most important differences between artistic and industrial/professional photography are compared based on criteria such as purpose, audience, style and method in order to conduct a comparative study of these two types of photography.
| معیار سنجش | عکاسی حرفه‌ای | عکاسی هنری |
|---|---|---|
| هدف | ثبت رویداد، درآمدزایی | انتقال احساس، بیان خلاق |
| مخاطب | عموم | صاحب‌نظران |
| سبک | ساده، قانون‌مند | شخصی و بدیع |
| روش | استاندارد | غیرمتعارف |
| ابزار | متعارف | آزمایشگرایانه |
| آموزش | آموزش‌های فنی | پرورش ذوق هنری |
| کاربرد | تبلیغاتی | بیان هنرمندانه |
| درآمدزایی | تجاری | غیرتجاری |
| خلاقیت | کمتر | بیشتر |
| ابتکار | تقلیدی | نوآورانه |
Quotations from famous photographers about the style of artistic photography
“Professional photos may be beautiful, but artistic photos shake the human soul.” – Robert Frank
The difference between professional photography and artistic photography lies in the creativity and artistic vision of the photographer.
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What distinguishes a professional photo from a work of art is the power of the photo to express a deep human truth.
Professional photographers take photos, artistic photographers create images.
Ansel Adams, a pioneer of nature photography.
Ansel Adams is one of the greatest and most famous nature photographers in the world who has become a legend by photographing the mountains, deserts and valleys of the American West.
Adams believed that photography is not simply a reproduction of reality, but a creative art that can create images beyond the appearance of objects. He considered photography a way of expressing his personal perceptions of nature.
Professional photography is simply about expressing the image, while artistic photography is about expressing the feeling.
His works have a particular aesthetic and depict nature in a poetic way.
With his unique style of photography, he managed to establish nature as a valuable subject in the art of photography and inspire generations to come. He is still considered one of the greatest legends of nature photography in history.
Eugene Smith, a pioneer of modern photojournalism.
He was one of the founders of modern photojournalism in the 1940s and 1950s He managed to introduce a new concept of photojournalism with his deep and emotional photos.
Smith believed that photojournalism is not simply the representation of events, but should tell a deeper story. He had a personal and emotional style of photography and tried to convey concepts beyond appearance.
Some of Smith’s most famous works include his photo essays on World War II, miners and workers, and villages in Japan. His powerful images of the lives of ordinary people had a profound impact on documentary photography.
With his humanist and global perspective, Smith transformed photojournalism from a mere reporting field to a platform for reflecting human experiences.
Question and Answer (Is photography an art or a profession?)
Question: Can pictures with bitter and sad content also be in the style of artistic photography?
Answer: Photos with social, political, or critical themes can also have artistic value. The main criterion is the transmission of concept and feeling.
Question: Can it be said that every good photographer is also an artistic photographer?
Answer: No, there may be very skilled photographers in professional photography, but they may not be able to create works of art.
Queestion: What is the role of the audience in turning a photo into a work of art?
Answer: The audience’s understanding and impressionability of the photo is also effective in turning it into a work of art. Communicating with the audience is an integral part of artistic photography.
Question: Is artistic photography limited to professional photographers or can amateur photographers also be creators?
Answer: Amateur photographers can also create works of art if they have a creative vision. Technical training and proficiency are not a guarantee of success in artistic photography.
Question: Has modern technology such as digital photo editing blurred the line between photography and the visual arts?
Answer: Yes, digital tools and especially AI tools now allow photographers to play a greater role in the creation, correction, and editing of images than before, and with the help of these tools, they can cover up artistic shortcomings.
Question: What factors make a photo go beyond professional photography and take on an artistic aspect?
Answer: Factors such as creativity, innovation, the photographer’s unique vision and style, and the ability of the photo to convey a deep concept and feeling.
Question: Is there a clear line between professional and artistic photography?
Answer: Nowadays, this line is becoming blurred, and professional photographers (technical) can also create works of art by taking advantage of creativity and using modern technologies.
Blurring the line between professional and artistic photography
Photography has always had two different approaches, professional and artistic, but the line between the two has become increasingly blurred in today’s world.
Professional photography, which once simply sought to capture reality, is now moving towards artistic photography by taking advantage of creativity and technological innovations. On the other hand, artistic photography is no longer limited to galleries and museums, and has entered the fields of advertising and marketing.
In the end, it can be said that artistic photography and professional photography are two sides of the same coin, each of which can convey its own unique beauty to the audience. The only determining factor is the photographer’s ingenuity and creativity, not just the chosen approach.
