What is the point of photography?

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PhotographyBuff

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The answer might seem obvious to some, but I am sure every person sees it a little bit differently. Hence, I am hoping that we can have some new insights among your answers!

I think the point of photography is not as obvious as that of painting for example (i.e. art). For that reason it would be profitable to try to come up with answers to this question.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
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…and why not?
What is the point of painting?
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As I mentioned in the parentheses, the point of painting is art. You might as well ask, "What is the point of art?", to learn the point of painting. I wonder whether you think there is a different point to painting than art?
 
Isn't photography rather like painting in that both can be used for artistic purposes, but equally both can be utilitarian? I can use a camera simply to record something with no pretensions to artistry; and I could paint a ceiling a la Sistine Chapel or simply magnolia. Both are painting. The difference seems to be that say "painting" and people think "artist" not "house painter"; "photography" seems to be more loaded away from utilitarian.
 
Cyclops said:
It fills in the time between birth and death.
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That might as well be the point of life. Must I then deduce that you equate photography with life?
 
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Kodiak Qc said:
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…and why not?
What is the point of painting?
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Moroever, painting allows one a freer hand in transforming reality according to one's wish. Photography must start from a basic given.
 
PhotographyBuff said:
As I mentioned in the parentheses, the point of painting is art. You might as well ask, "What is the point of art?", to learn the point of painting. I wonder whether you think there is a different point to painting than art?
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And photography isn't an art?
 
"What is the point of photography?"

Answer:

To look back on photos of oneself in 40 years and cringe at what was your style and dress code! :D
 
I get what the op is saying and it's the same with a lot of things, film, music, art, dancing, decorating cakes, making and painting models. We don't 'need' any of these but it's for our entertainment. We enjoy making these things for or own enjoyment and/or others. I think as a species we like, and maybe even need, to be entertained by ourselves or others. IMHO that's the point in photography.
 
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As a hobby it does not have a tangible benefit so could be classes as pointless in that respect - some hobbies like running have a fitness benefit and cycling has a benefit of being cheap transport (these are both activities I do but don't class them as hobbies but are more of a means to an end than something i enjoy particularly). My other main hobby is cigars, which like photography have no tangible benefit and soak up money.
 
PhotographyBuff said:
As I mentioned in the parentheses, the point of painting is art. You might as well ask, "What is the point of art?", to learn the point of painting. I wonder whether you think there is a different point to painting than art?
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You don't think photography is art?
 
I dont think there is a point, its just a fun thing to do.
 
The time you enjoy wasting, isn't wasted time. Therefore if you enjoy doing something, then it's not pointless.
 
The Point of Photography is to make a photograph
Which begs the question; what's the point of a photograph?
And the answer to that, is quite simple too - to be looked at!
So, why does any-one want to look at a photograph?
Does it interest them?
Does it entertain them?
Does it inform them?
Does it 'effect' them?
Does it 'enrich' their existence in any way?
If it does none of them, then they have no reason to look at it, the picture has no purpose.
 
What's the point of anything?
A definitive answer doesn't exist.
 
Silly question really, it means different things to different people and people do it for different reasons as most things in life
 
danjama said:
You don't think photography is art?
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I didn't say that. It's just that in the case of photography it's not as clear as in painting that it is solely an art. It can serve other purposes. What about family photography, or documentary photography?
 
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Raptor Mike said:
I get what the op is saying and it's the same with a lot of things, film, music, art, dancing, decorating cakes, making and painting models. We don't 'need' any of these but it's for our entertainment. We enjoy making these things for or own enjoyment and/or others. I think as a species we like, and maybe even need, to be entertained by ourselves or others. IMHO that's the point in photography.
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Nope, these are the things that make us different from other animals, the free thought, the creative process
 
PhotographyBuff said:
I think the point of photography is not as obvious as that of painting for example (i.e. art). For that reason it would be profitable to try to come up with answers to this question.
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Profitable? I'm not sure I understand the requirement or what the op is looking for as an answer.

Photography can be a document, a memory reminder, something that stimulates the senses, evokes emotions, pleasure, shock etc.
the difference generally between a photo and a painting is that a painting will be the artists interpretation, it's not a recording but what the painter remembers, because of the timescale. A photo can also be manipulated but starts as the camera recording that instant in time, it happened.
 
Simple answer

It freezes a moment in time to look back on
 
PhotographyBuff said:
I didn't say that. It's just that in the case of photography it's not as clear as in painting that it is solely an art. It can serve other purposes. What about family photography, or documentary photography?
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As is painting. Paintings week often used to record images of family, large portraits or small momentos to carry, landscapes, paintings of the family home. Visited any stately homes recently? Not all paintings are art, they were used exactly the same way as photographs can be and as such, ultimately, are similar, just different media.
 
Raptor Mike said:
Entertainment doesn't make us different from other animals, but as you've said creativity does. But do we not create to entertain?
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No I don't think we do. I think entertain is the wrong word. Ultimately it's the sharing, the approval, all creative processes needs feedback, we crave the approval, be it a painting, a photo, a good meal prepared.
 
Raptor Mike said:
But why would we want to look back. Entertainment ;)
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Think of some of the most famous photos. Would these be entertainment?

Wrong word I think, to look back on something would mean we were documenting something for probably sharing later.

This isn't entertaining. There's nothing about entertainment with war photography, or documenting tragedies. James natchway, I have been a witness and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotton and must not be repeated
 
1. There's always something to learn and aim for
2. It can be creative or utilitarian - whatever you like
3. It can be solitary or sociable
4. Cameras look and feel nice and there's always a new button to explore
5. It's something to do when BT has failed to fix your broadband problem for 10 days:(!
 
realspeed said:
It freezes a moment in time to look back on
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That's a snapshooter talking ...

One point of photography is to exercise the visual faculties of heart and mind, though some exercises will be cerebral and not have so much heart.

Another point of photography is to communicate.
 
PhotographyBuff said:
As I mentioned in the parentheses, the point of painting is art. You might as well ask, "What is the point of art?", to learn the point of painting. I wonder whether you think there is a different point to painting than art?
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The point of painting is art ? - possibly, many are, but historicity many paintings are a record of a person or an event prior to the existence of photography.

For example, 'The Battle of Trafalgar' by William Turner was commissioned to commemorate the Battle, as was 'the Death of Nelson'(Devis). These were not just painted art-for-arts sake but to record the event for prosperity there being no other method at the time.

Despite this, the testimony of eyewitness can be unreliable and inaccuracies recorded, the same remains true today.
 
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Earth people are silly and sentimental. And photography is one of the sentimental things that they keep doing. Alongside music and keeping pets. Earth is a pointless place.
 
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