There's Taking Photos... Then There's Photography

During one of my recent Photoshop workshops, a client said

"There's taking photos... and then there's photography."

It wasn't said to criticise anyone or suggest one is better than the other.

It was simply an observation.

But it got me thinking..... Is there really a difference?

And if there is... where do we draw the line?

Because the more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of another conversation photographers often have.

What makes an image "fine art photography"?

Where Do We Draw the Line?

Photography is full of labels.

• Landscape photographer.
• Wildlife photographer.
• Street photographer.
• Commercial photographer.
• Fine art photographer.
• Point-and-shoot.
• Professional.
• Amateur.

Yet photography doesn't always fit neatly into these categories.

A landscape image can also be fine art.

A documentary photograph can become art.

A smartphone image can win international awards.

So perhaps the labels aren't as important as we think.

 

Is It the Camera... Or the Intention?

When people hear "taking photos," they often imagine documenting a moment.

When they hear "photography," they imagine creativity, storytelling and artistic expression.

But the camera hasn't changed.

The difference is often the intention.

Why did you make the image?

What were you trying to say?

What did you notice that someone else walked past?

 

The Same Debate Exists in Fine Art Photography

This reminds me of the ongoing discussion around fine art photography.

Some people believe fine art photography is created for artistic expression rather than documenting reality.

Others believe every photograph has the potential to become art if it reflects the photographer's personal vision.

There isn't a universally accepted definition.

And maybe that's okay.

Art has always been subjective.

 

Photography Is More Than Recording a Scene

For me, photography becomes something deeper when it moves beyond simply recording what was there.

It's about making decisions.

Choosing light.

Waiting for a moment.

Simplifying a composition.

Using colour—or removing it entirely.

Creating an image that reflects not just what you saw, but how you experienced it.

That's something I try to encourage in every workshop.

Not to copy my way of seeing.

But to discover your own.

 

Maybe There Isn't a Right Answer

After thinking about my client's comment, I don't think there's a single answer.

Some people simply enjoy taking photographs to preserve memories.

Others use photography as a creative outlet.

Others create work intended to provoke emotion or tell a story.

None of those approaches are wrong.

They're simply different reasons for picking up a camera.

 

A Better Question

Instead of asking,

"Is this photography or just taking photos?"

or

"Is this fine art photography?"

Perhaps a better question is...

"What was the photographer trying to say?"

Because once intention enters the conversation, photography becomes far more than pressing a shutter button.

It becomes a way of communicating.

Photography isn't defined by the camera you use, the genre you shoot, or the label you give yourself.

It's defined by the intention behind the image and the story you're trying to tell.

Can a family snapshot become art because of the emotion it carries? Can a documentary image also be fine art? Does an image need to be created with artistic intent from the beginning, or can the viewer give it that meaning later?