Members Monthly Report March 2010
What a great pleasure it was to have Peter McCormack, curator of the Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch (where our Annual Exhibition is held every year) and his assistant, James Higgins as guest speakers at the Circle on Wednesday with their joint presentation 'Photography and Art - the Link?'
James who is both artist and photographer took the floor first and passed his opinion that other than in situations where photographs are taken as a scientific means of recording factual information, then photography is art.
His opinion is based on the fact that where there is some form of personal input to an image by the photographer whether it be framing, composition, lighting or manipulation in the darkroom/computer then the resultant image is an art form and he illustrated this with several photographic images to support his theory. Many of these images in their original form had sold or been valued at sums considerable higher than many well known 'traditional' art forms.
Peter took a totally different approach and generally gave an indication that he felt photography had yet to meet the criteria of the 'test of time' before it would have the same status as traditional art.
He was quick to point out however that as a means of recording a 'moment in time' it had no equal.
All things considered, the outcome was,as expected, inconclusive with the choice being left up to the individual and the resultant discussions on the matter would continue ad infinitum!'
Regards, Rob
James who is both artist and photographer took the floor first and passed his opinion that other than in situations where photographs are taken as a scientific means of recording factual information, then photography is art.
His opinion is based on the fact that where there is some form of personal input to an image by the photographer whether it be framing, composition, lighting or manipulation in the darkroom/computer then the resultant image is an art form and he illustrated this with several photographic images to support his theory. Many of these images in their original form had sold or been valued at sums considerable higher than many well known 'traditional' art forms.
Peter took a totally different approach and generally gave an indication that he felt photography had yet to meet the criteria of the 'test of time' before it would have the same status as traditional art.
He was quick to point out however that as a means of recording a 'moment in time' it had no equal.
All things considered, the outcome was,as expected, inconclusive with the choice being left up to the individual and the resultant discussions on the matter would continue ad infinitum!'
Regards, Rob