It is often said that photography is not art. This statement is usually made by people who do not understand photography, or by people who have a vested interest in another art form. For example, a painter may say that photography is not art because it does not involve the creative process of making a painting. A sculptor may say that photography is not art because it does not involve the creative process of making a sculpture. And so on.
The fact is, photography does involve a creative process. It is not simply a matter of pointing a camera at something and pressing the shutter button. To produce a good photograph, the photographer must have a vision of what he or she wants to create. The photographer must also be able to execute that vision, which requires a certain amount of skill.
So, if photography involves a creative process, and if the photographer has a vision and the skills to execute that vision, then why isn’t photography considered art?
The answer, I believe, has to do with the history of photography. For most of its history, photography was used primarily for utilitarian purposes, such as documenting events or providing portraits. It was only in the late 19th century that photography began to be used for more artistic purposes.
The first photographers to really push the boundaries of what photography could be were the Impressionists. These photographers, led by French photographer Gustave Le Gray, began to experiment with techniques that would later become known as impressionistic photography. They used long exposures to capture the movement of clouds, and they used soft focus to create a dreamlike quality in their images.
The Impressionists were followed by a number of other photographers who continued to experiment with the medium. These photographers included Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, and Edward Weston. They were able to push photography in new and interesting directions, and they helped to establish photography as an art form.
Today, photography is widely recognized as an art form. It is exhibited in museums and galleries, and it is collected by private individuals. There are even photography competitions, such as the World Press Photo Contest, which are prestigious events.
So, to answer the question, Did photography become art? I would say yes”