Some views on photography as an art

Photography has long been regarded as both an art and a science. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, more and more photographers are using their medium, through Blog Groups, to express their artistic visions. I have also had the opportunity to participate in the membership of these groups (at least 6 photography groups, and one with at least 486,000 contributors), and read the views of very well-published photographers. However, not everyone agrees on the relationship between art and technical skill in photography, or at least how it can be discussed and explored.

Some photographers believe that the art they create should be separate from the techniques and technology they use to develop their final presentation. Others freely offer explanations of how they achieve their stunning images, either digitally or in print. As a photographer who has a lot to learn, I believe that anything I know or learn about my photography is freely available to anyone who wants to know and learn.

I also believe that truly great photography has a few key components. Firstly, there is the science of understanding the tools and medium you are using, such as the camera and its functions. Secondly, there is the long and building experience needed to perfect the technical qualities you are looking for in the final presentation. Thirdly, there are the locations you find yourself in, whether planned or unintentional, that present the random events and scenes to you for your opportunity to take full advantage of.

But perhaps most importantly, there is the art that you build in your mind as you absorb the views of others and develop your own interpretation of what is good and what is right. This art is built on techniques, yes, but also on passion, emotions, and expressions of thought and scene that come together to enable you to show what you feel.

In the end, great photography is about more than just technical skill or artistic vision. It is about finding the balance between the two, and using both to create something truly beautiful and meaningful.

Ricefield Women

Mrs Maprang rents a rice field from a local rice farmer and lives there with her daughter-in-law and their children in an old corrugated iron shed, just near the rice field. She has lived there for 30 years. The land where she lives is just enough room for the house and gravel road front where she sells deep fried bananas and vegetables with a friend. The rice field isn’t big enough to feed her family anymore, so selling the bananas and vegetables subsidises her income, just enough to provide food for the family.

Check the full image in the Suphan Buri gallery

Spitzingsee - Walk in the Woods

In 2019 wanted to get the first snow of winter in Germany and Austria. We travelled with friends to Spitzingsee - a beautiful calm pine-covered lake and mountains near the border with Austria.

We had three days to experience the alpine snow but, no snow today. So we walked around the lake and I found this cosy lake-side private cottage.

Camera Nikon D750 ISO: 160 f/5.0 Sec:1/100 Lens:24-70mm f2.8 Nikkor FL: 50mm

Spitzingsee - First Snow

We got lucky! One day it was a typical Autumn lake scene. The next morning we woke to this beautiful winter snow scene. At 6:30am this soundless, soft winter lake picture presented itself. No one else out to witness this magic, only my footsteps in the soft snow. The soft crunch of the snow compressing under your feet, the feel and smell of the cold air and the snow falling on your face. Unforgetable! ...Lovely!"

Fuschlsee- Through the Snow

In December 2019 we wanted to get the first snow of winter in Germany and Austria. After spending some time at Spitzingsee, we travelled with friends to Fuschlsee, Austria to see the beautiful lake area. While we were there, we got the first snow.

It had just begun to snow heavily. Family were waiting for me to catch the bus down to Salzburg but I just couldn’t resist capturing this quite forest scene blurred by the heavy snow fall. The colours sucked up by the snow, but just enough to make out the green of the pines and brown of their trunks. - Mysterious.

Girl Selling Vegetables Chile

My father was very good photographer. He had an eye for the interesting that would grab your attention

This portfolio is a sample of my father's photographs shot some time between 1960 and 1970. In those days there was no such thing as 'street photography' but that's what he was presenting in his candid shots is many countries. In a number of shots there are hints of Andre kertesz's work, though he didnt know it at the time.

David Pye won an award for this image. Check the full image in David Pye's Photography Legacy Gallery

What Should Have Been

One evening I went to Coppins Crossing with a friend with the aim of capturing some broad-sky astro shots. We got there before dark of course, to set up for a night of astro gazing. However, as the sun set, a super storm came over the mountains. This storm turned out to be news-worthy and in one shot in the Coppins Crossing Gallery you can see the storm approaching. Well, that blew away our astro night so I thought I would make the most of the evening while it wasn't raining and photograph the strorm. It so happens that on a previous trip I was lucky enough to shoot some great colours over the Brindabellas. Since what should have been wasn't, a silhouette of the mountains and clear night skies, I blended these two images of what should have been!

This is an evening sunset and an astro, taken at Hill End on a cold April night.