for-real-things-I-know

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

birds in flight
Posted by Hello

Omni said...: This is a nice shot... but how does it differ from every other shot of birds taking flight? What does it say or show that's new? What makes it ART?; 9:54 PM
Solomon said...: I really don't think this one is art. I'm doing many things when I go out with my camera. Most of it is learning: learning about composition, learning about technique, learning about lighting, learning about how to take a particular shot. I've only taken 2 shots of birds in flight in my life, so I can't claim there's art to the resulting photographs yet. Right now I am practicing how to take a picture of birds in flight. As time goes on, hopefully I can learn enough to take an artistic shot of flying birds.

As far as what makes a photograph itself art, my belief is that a photograph is art when it engages you, when it is such that you agree to devote a piece of yourself (whether your mind or your heart or your higher self) to it for a period of time. I don't get in debates about whether a particular piece is art or not. It's art if it engages. If it doesn't engage, well, I sure am not going to claim its art. But everything I put out here engages me... and I can't tell you why yet. Just instinct, that's all I'm flying with myself right now.

If you come back and look at my pictures, though, I would like to know if anything engages you--to help my instinct grow.; 10:25 PM

For Real Things I Know