The other day, my mom took my sister and I out on the hunt to find the precise spot where the "perfect Christmas card" picture could be taken. We went from place to place in my small, country town for what seemed like hours. As we drove along, my sister and I would point out what seemed to be a nice spot, only to be told that "It's too windy there," or "The sun is blocked by that tree. It would be too shadowed there." As my patience wore thin, I found myself wondering why on God's green Earth we couldn't just stop, jump out, snap a photo, and be done with it all. I started thinking about how much the perfect picture on this Christmas card being really meant to my mom. By no means is my mom a renowned photographer, though since she got her new camera she has been a bit "snap happy." She did, however, know how she wanted the light to hit everything, what she wanted the scenery to look like, and how she wanted everything in the photo to be positioned. It was all such a precise concept with such an astounding amount of organization and creativity, that it made me question, What is photography?
I've always found the concept of photography to be rather intriguing, and though it has not ever been a true hobby of my own, I rather enjoy taking photos of things that appeal to me in an artistic fashion. When I was younger, having a camera and taking pictures of anything and everything possible was just something that made you cool. There was never really any form behind it all. In high school, photography became more of a way to capture moments that would not ever be experienced again. It was upon entering college and looking more into the Arts and Technology major that I came to the realization that photography is much more complex. After researching more to answer my question, I found a rather interesting explanation on http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/what-is-photography.html. Within this site, photography is described as a way to express passion and emotion, a connection between people, and a path used to bridge the gaps. What the subject of the photograph is and how the photograph looks is decided upon by the knowledge and "eye" held by the the photographer. Photography can be looked at from many viewpoints, three of which are summarized in the article found on http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/photography.html. Within the article, it is basically said that some say photography is not an art, some say photographs are a less creative form of art, and still some say that photography is a beneficial form of art.
Though many individuals seem to hold different views of what photography is and why photography matters to them, it seems like a safe bet to say that photography is an artistic outlet through which people can do or say whatever they would like. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
