imho, for it to be art, 1) it 'd require some forethought and inner vision before the capture, while keeping the technical aspects in mind and under control, 2) in this age of digital, some clever and deft processing to even personalize and emotionalize one's interpretation and mood whether recalling the moment of capture or in the lab as an afterthought ....cheers ;-))

of course it's highly subjective ...case in point: lots of highly acclaimed images on this site didn't fare too well on other sites and vice versa ...it all depends on the audience ....cheers ;-))

Certainly it does Dee ;-)) I join to your words, but if we'd omit a process of taking a photo and manipulations in labs then we'd have a schema an idea -> a result (a picture). So we have the same situation as in painting, don't we? All others is the process and tools that can attract different groups of ppl and we can see them in real life ... at the end, yes, IMHO photography is an art indisputably .... but as any art it has a risk to be incomprehensible, too sophisticated etc and from this point it's very subjective ;-))

best wishes

An art is definable only in its own terms; it is as difficult to write about photography as it is about music, especially from a personal viewpoint. I feel that as one grows older his credo becomes simpler and more direct. Penetrating the smoke screens of equipment and techniques, glamor, ideology, and simple achievement motive, the art of photography appears as strong and vital – and purposeful – as any other creative medium, and stands cleanly on its own feet. We are confronted today with a dichotomy; as our equipment and materials constantly grow in scope and quality the creative and technical standards appear to be diminishing; there is a near-cult of photographers who seem to intentionally avoid the beautiful and precise image, concentrating only on subject and obvious function. My personal reaction to this attitude is a determination to go as far in the opposite direction as possible. I believe in the most beautiful and appropriate prints, and the most clarifying and revealing approach of mind, heart, and craft. I believe that firm objectives in this direction can fulfill the promise of photography as one of the great visual arts. However, we must always be logical in our critical estimates; most of photography is not intended as art and should not be judged as such. But if art is intended, compromise must not be tolerated.

Life is your art. An open, aware heart is your camera. A oneness with your world is your film. Your bright eyes and easy smile is your museum.

My last word s that it all depends on what you visualize.

Photography as art is purely subjective. Nothing to add.

Best wishes,

see article thread posted by recx on style vs rut.