“Photography is the dominant and fascinating and only folk art of the twentieth century.”
-Sir John Rothenstein
What do the art-photographers say about it?
“…..unless photography has its own possibilities of expression, separate from those of the other arts, it is merely a process, not an art.”
– Alfred Stieglitz
“When I first became interested in photography, I thought it was the whole cheese. My idea was to have it recognized as one of the fine arts. Today I don’t give a hoot in hell about that. The mission of photography is to explain man to man and each man to himself.”
– Edward Steichen
“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.”
– Ansel Adams
“I didn’t want to make “high” art, I had no interest in using paint, I wanted to find something that anyone could relate to without knowing about contemporary art. I wasn’t thinking in terms of precious prints or archival quality; I didn’t want the work to seem like a commodity…….
…..One reason I was interested in photography was to get away from the preciousness of the art object.”
– Cindy Sherman
“The definition of a great picture is one that stays with you, one that you can’t forget. It doesn’t have to be technically good at all.“
“We photographers say that we take a picture, and in a certain sense, that is true. We take something from people’s lives, but in doing so we tell their story.”
-Steve McCurry
“Photography is all about capturing a mood, a feeling. I feel a special connection with nature, often very powerful. This late afternoon was phenomenal. Standing on the edge of the ocean, I gasped in awe as the holy light illuminated this cathedral window. Witnessing such a moment and capturing it is what I live for. Mother Nature is so powerful, I never underestimate Her.”
-Peter Lik
“My art is an attempt to reach beyond the surface appearance. I want to see growth in wood, time in stone, nature in a city, and I do not mean its parks but a deeper understanding that a city is nature too-the ground upon which it is built, the stone with which it is made.“
“Photography is a way of putting distance between myself and the work which sometimes helps me to see more clearly what it is that I have made.“ – Andy Goldsworthy
“People say photographs don’t lie, mine do.”
“I didn’t see any difference between being a photographer or being an artist. I didn’t make those boundaries. If someone wants to think it’s art, that’s great, but I’ll let history decide.”
– David LaChapelle
“My tintype images are created using equipment made more than 160 years ago, from an era when cameras were made by craftsmen in small shops and lenses were designed using slide rules, experience and feel. The inherent flaws of these instruments lend themselves perfectly to my view of a beautifully imperfect world.”
– Giles Clement
“Apart from diving in Greece or abroad to capture the beauty of the marine world, Samaras aims in showcasing that water can become a canvas for highly aesthetic artistic creations. His portfolio includes portraits of swimmers (from professional athletes, to babies learning how to float in a pool), as well as a varied range of themes, including fashion editorials.”
– Interview with Nicholas Samaras
Art photography – What is it?
Sounds like an exploration of ideas.
Quotes and public artwork from the various artists gratefully acknowledged
Camera Clips 