The culture of photography

[droj]

Basically, photography is a tool for recording images. How and why the recording is made, is a decision for the person who initiates the recording, who may not be the person holding the camera. The person who initiates the recording, may themselves have no say in how that recording is then used. It follows that the possible reasons for making a photograph are more numerous than just "communicating" or "self gratification", although those are both, I imagine, major reasons for creating a photograph.

Granted, as far as it goes ...

 

[ancient_mariner]

That sounds oversimplified & a bit arid. Are you denying 'heart' in photographs - & its communicability, or that of any other forms of intelligence? Isn't the 'scene', at best, just a hinge?

You may take pictures for a variety of reasons and people will interpret the scenes you photograph in various ways, put I see the purpose of photography as just a recording system.

 

[snerkler]

Photography's purpose is to record scenes, and that's all, but some may be able to share thise scenes with others to their benefit while most will not.

Can’t photography be art and not just simply to record a scene but also evoke emotions, or capture someone’s eye or imagination, for example in advertising and marketing?

When I do studio stuff it’s not to record a scene per se, it’s to try and learn and master lighting, to learn how to work with people, and also to capture something of interest.

When I do motorsports it’s about perfecting technique, it’s about getting ‘involved’ in a major passion. Yes you’re capturing a scene, a moment etc but the purpose is so much more than that imo

 

[ancient_mariner]

When I do studio stuff it’s not to record a scene per se, it’s to try and learn and master lighting, to learn how to work with people, and also to capture something of interest.

You are creating the scenes out of intent, and designing them to generate interest or feelings in other people. The camera and lens system can't do this, but your techniques and intent can.

I've just realised there are 2 threads discussing essentially similar things - I was wondering why I couldn't see Raymond's guitars.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Can’t photography be art and not just simply to record a scene but also evoke emotions, or capture someone’s eye or imagination, for example in advertising and marketing?

Of course.

Photography is essentially no different to a paint brush and tins of paint, being a tool to record an image. How and why anyone chooses to use the tool may be for pleasure or for many other reasons.

 

[kokolino23]

Photography is a passion that creates memories, without them our universe would be less interesting.