Yes, but is it Art ?

It is almost two hundred years since the first photograph was made. Since then much has changed, both in process, technology and thinking about what a photograph is. Susan Sontag has considered the philosophy of the photograph ( "On Photography" 1971); John Berger has written extensively on the challenges of photography as an art critic ("Understanding a Photograph" -1978 and beyond) and many others have added thoughts, arguments and observations since on what photographs may achieve or be.

And of course they are many things to many people. They are holiday snaps and records of families. They are exaggerations to advertise and grow desire for objects. They are flattering portraits or memories of weddings. Pictures of pets and warnings about wars and other dangers. Still lives. Pornography. Illustrations for newsprint. What they are not, of course, is art. At least not uniformly. 

And yet some undoubtedly are. Some carry distinct messages and can communicate feelings and emotions in the same way that paintings can. They may use their technology to confuse or prompt some thought we may not otherwise have had. I have never advocated that all photographs are art but any medium that can be used to explore humanity and our psyche is always going to make the outcomes of these an artistic possibility. For me an important word to set alongside those words that are often used to describe art such as beauty, skill, imagination and feelings goes the word intention. Some photgraphers set out to use their skill and imagination to intentionally challenge us - and to me that makes those photographs art.

As photography has matured and become so many things it is worth stopping and thinking about the changes that have taken place and how cobjectivity has developed since the 1830's. Society and societal mores have altered considerably and it could be argued that photography has driven at least some of that - just consider the role of selfies...

Charlotte Cotton's book does this extremely competently and is well illustrated as a way of giving examples to the arguments. You probably won't agree with everything in here but that is not the point. The point is to think - and if you want to argue with her and cite some alternative views then please do. It is critical thinking and discussion that carries us forward. So - is it art ? You tell me ...