Op-Ed | Photography is artwork

To the Opinions Editor,

I just lately learn The Pitt News’ article “Photography isn’t art (sorry),” and I consider the author lacks an understanding of what makes pictures artwork. The author’s difficulty with categorizing pictures as artwork stems from digital pictures’s low barrier to entry. I’d argue that the shift to digital from movie has not diminished pictures’s standing as an artwork type and that the author fashioned this opinion as a result of they haven’t but discovered a option to categorical themselves creatively by pictures.

I believe the author paints with a broad brush after they argue that fashionable pictures tools ensures an ideal picture, making the photographer extra a witness than an artist. Even with out the restrictions of movie, there are nonetheless many instruments fashionable cameras provide us to infuse our personal creativity. The author might have chosen to, say, double expose their picture or expose for various elements of the picture. They might have chosen to deal with a component within the foreground or the background or composed their picture in an unconventional means. Editing softwares additionally provide us methods to be inventive, akin to colour grading and overlaying photos. Just as a result of know-how provides us inventive crutches doesn’t imply we’ve got to make use of them. I’m undecided what sort of digital camera the author was given on their journey, however they seemingly didn’t have to make use of it as a point-and-shoot.

Don’t get me incorrect — I’m not right here to grandstand and admonish somebody who hasn’t discovered their inventive spark. I solely began practising pictures often lower than a 12 months in the past, and I admit I’ve rather a lot to study, and there may be positively room for enchancment in my work. Nevertheless, it’s artwork, and there may be an artwork to capturing the world round us. No, we didn’t create the sundown or the elephant we’re photographing, however by our personal perspective and our creativity, we make artwork.

Sincerely,

A Pitt News reader