Photography vs Imagery
This is gonna be very tricky because the extremely fine line between the
two can move quite a bit depending on who you ask.
PHOTOGRAPHY In my eye, the word says it all:
The word "photography" was created from the Greek roots φωτός
(phōtos), genitive of φῶς (phōs), "light" and γραφή (graphé) "repre-
sentation by means of lines" or "drawing", together meaning "draw-
ing with light". wiki.
And this: "Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes god
made in establishing tonal relationships." — Ansel Adams
No one has ever seen good shots signed: god!
So is/are there a limit(s) in the production of photographs… some sort
of taboo? Are the tools used clearly defined and so restricted?
My view is there is a big difference between photography and imagery.
Don't get me wrong, both are legitimate as they appeal to artistic intent
and/or to rigorous and disciplined technical application.
Imagery is bringing in the process the creative freedom of the painters.
With imagery like with painting, the process is all about creating a com-
positional interest using everything like subject, perspective, colours, to-
nes etc… even non existing scenes.
Photography, otoh, is more like getting out there and witness, live, expe-
rience the world as it is… in all its splendour.
What do you say, think?
Light is free… capturing it is not!
Over the years I have heard / seen / contributed to similar discussions too
The topic has often been along the lines of "what's the difference between 'photography' and 'happy snapping' as both methods use a camera?"
As you note via the Ansel Adams reference - one of the primary differences comes about from the artistic interpretation by the author for the final image as the author wants to display that image. The happy-snapper simply says "here is my dog" whereas the photographer goes one or two or three steps further and creates "a visual story"
Does this make sense? ... does it go some distance towards your point of view?
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
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