AS I mounted a photography exhibition for my church’s youth group last Tuesday called “Creation”, I thought about the art of photography, more so, the difference between photography as the man in the street knows it, and fine art photography. As I looked at the entries, I was quite pleased with the level of work produced. Viewing them primarily from a perspective of photography, I looked at how the photographers used the elements of photography, namely, using the rule of thirds, creating depth of field, using the different camera angles, composition, leading lines, balance and more. I also noted their interpretation of the theme “Creation.” While each photographer had his/her own unique style, the exhibition managed to bring them together quite cohesively. It was a combination of portrait, landscape, action, architecture and seascape printed in colour, black and white, and a combination of both. The entries fell under the category of photojournalism, and pieces frequently found in publications and calendars that feature images taken with the camera with little or no manipulation. They captured the scenes as they existed at a precise moment in time.

Photography is the art of capturing images that preserve memories and document history. A photograph is a picture or likeness obtained by photography. Images can be printed on film, paper, vinyl, canvas or stored in digital memory. Photography also includes moving images captured on film or video. Whether moving or still, a photograph not only captures images like the human eye, but technology has also equipped us with the tools needed to manipulate/ edit the image in infinite ways. “Cinderella horizon” demonstrates a representation of photography.

However, photography that meets the criteria of the art world has one distinguishing element. Fine art photography is first and foremost about the artist. It is not about capturing what the camera sees; it is about capturing what the artist sees. The artist merely uses the camera as a tool to create a work of art. Fine art photography goes beyond the literal representation of a scene or subject. It should express the feelings and vision of the photographer and reveal that the work was created by an artist and not by just a camera. Myrna Bernard is a Guyanese artist who worked in fine art photography. She was a former member of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association, and her work was usually displayed at our annual exhibitions. Ms. Bernard has migrated, and I’m hoping other photographers or artists take up the mantle of producing fine art photography. “The man in the tree” is an example of fine art photography.

“Creation” was one of the many art events that occurred during this Christmas season. ‘Tis the season to support the artist.