There are questions to be answered I am told!

Let this be my stance and reply to these:

Discuss journal & blog

o  what is art?

·     For me art is anything [and I mean anything that I can currently think of or imagine...] that a person produces with their own hands, or feet or in general a body part using any form of medium to create something that can stimulate the mind when viewed, touched, or in general sensed.  Naturally the more traditional methods such a painting, sculpture, etc. produce more profound results and are more likely to be accepted as art for public consumption, rather than just the artist.

o  what is photography?

·     Use of scientific/technological methods to record a subject matter on a medium [which means just about any known form that either has been used or can be used to produce a piece of work, film, glass, digital, silver, etc...]  from which a production of output is created to be viewed.  Artistic application of method, capture or production withstanding is not critical but is a very important part of the acceptability of the work for others grading

o  what is digital photography?

·     The same as above with the restrictive statement of using a medium that is directly related to the technology as it is or might be digitized in the work flow process.  Gosh this is too much double speak, zeros and ones are the basis for its foundation....as opposed to a chemical or organic one.

o  do photographs lie?

·     THEY CAN... In terms of what we think we saw or see.....Absolutely, as the subject and its critical action might be captured, the fleeting moment may produce an image that is typically unseen by the human eye in the normal course of business, but that viewpoint casts an impression that can be so very far from the truth of that action at that very instantaneous time frame.  But consider that in reality they actually tell the absolute truth as to what was at that precise moment....it is our human translation in viewing that moment that causes the conflict, what is or was vs what we see or sense from it.

o  how far is it okay to take the manipulation of an image?

·     For me that depends on the intent of the post production effort, if a client is involved and that is what is required to produce the work they need, then absolutely.  If it is the work to go on the front page of a newspaper, then not likely, as the truth and accurate representation of that subject matter in that critical moment should be maintained as it was.

·     The artistic use of post production manipulation can be stunning, in the sense that it is another form of art.  It might not be meant to be any form of realism and should not be judged as such. 

·     Showing your work in judged venues.  There are many strict rules in clubs and organizations that control these uses in many of the categories.  You need to choose to play by the rules of the category if you intend  to participate in any photo shows or contests for instance.

o  is it okay to appropriate images?

·     I am not a big fan of allowing this, it is too easy and there are way too many bad people out there, but given the state of things today, I do not see any reasonable manner in which to control it very well