Digital Photography: Is It Just Modern Science Or Also Form
Of Art?
Digital photography has undoubtedly made photography easier
and more economic. It has taken the level of professional photography to new
heights due to the modern techniques that it employs and due to the fact that
all its photos are instantly visible which gives the photographer the chance to
rectify it. Although these are all true facts, the question still remains
whether or not digital photography is art or science. Digital photography or
photography altogether is basically considered to be an extension of the art of
painting. It is considered art because through the visual photos the
photographer is able to express his/her emotions or thoughts.
People who do not consider photography to be a form of art
brings the fact forward that a photographer does not create something new with
his digital camera, rather captures something that is already there, which is
more characteristic to science. An artist however is that person who is able to
create something that is unique, visual and representative of his/her thoughts
and emotions. The artists may again raise the question that the beauty which
each picture holds is indeed representative of the photographer’s emotions. The
portrayal of the subject in the picture shows what appealed to the mind of the
artist at that particular and unique moment.
Another factor that contributes for the theory that digital
photography is more than just science is unique to digital photography only.
The photographer may capture only something that is already there, but he will
make more of it, rather personalize it t the degree of art through editing it.
By adjusting the exposure, colors, contrast and cropping the unwanted parts
out, he can create a photo which is not only unique but also true art.
This is something that is also pointed out by the
propagators of the “science theory” as something that limits the scope of
photography. They mention that digital editing of a photograph may emulate the
same results each time unlike painting. What this means is that you can follow
the set of steps every time to achieve the same result every time which is
again characteristic of a scientific method than an art form.
These may be the different theories regarding the topic but
it still is quite hard to categorize it under one of the criterions. It is best
to treat digital photography as a form of art enhanced by science which means
that digital photography is both a bit of art and a bit of science. The
category to which digital photography belongs can be best determined by the
user as it is based on his belief and treatment of the activity that will
ultimately determine whether digital photography is also art, or just science.
Digital photography has undoubtedly made photography easier
and more economic. It has taken the level of professional photography to new
heights due to the modern techniques that it employs and due to the fact that
all its photos are instantly visible which gives the photographer the chance to
rectify it. Although these are all true facts, the question still remains
whether or not digital photography is art or science. Digital photography or
photography altogether is basically considered to be an extension of the art of
painting. It is considered art because through the visual photos the
photographer is able to express his/her emotions or thoughts.
