Not another photographer!

Why do you like photography? Is photography a form of art? Can photography be regarded as a profession?

If you do a Google search for any of these questions, you will get a tone of different views and answers. But here is what I am questioning, “why photography, why not other forms of art and why there are sooooooooooooooo (each o represent a 0 in fact!) many photographers online especially present in social media?”

We all know that the entry to this market or performing this form of art is easy. And yes, I am calling it art because you cannot rebuff the fact that photography is a form of art consisting composition and control of color and/or light. We also know that due to lower manufacturing costs, price of photography equipment is decreasing, therefore, the cost of acquiring them are much less than it used to be. In addition, there is a different element at work here and that is the outlets and distribution channels are also becoming more and more social. As a result, a photographer can reach a much larger audience than it used to before.

But seriously is this the only form of art that can so intelligently use social media or lower cost manufacturing and lower cost of acquiring the knowledge and equipment? Is this really an art any more? While a photographer can edit and pre and post process a photo (compared to poor Ansell Adam’s job) can a violinist pre and post process a piece, and can he or she reach this ever growing number of audience by his/her music only? Can a painter post his/her work in progress or final canvas online? Can a jewelry designer reach everyone this easily online? Can a performer such as the ones in cirque de soleil and Broadway become as recognized as photographers are in the world of social media by their art not their personal life?

I think my question perhaps would be better answered by asking why we are drawn to the shared pictures. Don’t we listen to music, don’t we enjoy performing arts? Why photography has become so prevalent in social media and not other forms of art. Is this a sustainable trend?

My personal take is that this will not sustain. This market is too much fragmented and there is so much you can take picture of. There will be a collision of ideas. There will be a point that every model, aspect and corner of earth is exhausted by numerous photographers. There will be a new form of art born in social media and I am yet to discover what that will be.

But above all, photography is still a tool to capture special moments. Your special moments will remain special to you no matter if others regard them as artful captures or not!