Greetings and
salutations!
Throughout these case studies we
have investigated various techniques, technologies and artists which have
contributed to the formation of this fresh and exciting new medium. My hope is
that after reading these case studies you have a better understanding on the
impact that digital photography has made in the world of art. I believe, that
the world of digital photography stands apart from traditional photography. As
a student of art history, I always wonder what will be our place within the canon
of art history. Just as the 14th to 16th century had the
Renaissance period and the turn of the 20th century ushered in Modernism,
we now live in a world which is experiencing the birth of a new aesthetic. I
believe that the 21st century will be remembered as the Digital age.
The aesthetic of digital photography is not simply an amped up version of
traditional photography but more of a blending of all mediums preceding it. The
lines between the captured image, illustration, painting and even sculpture
become blurry within this ambiguously demarcated form of art.
This blog is only the tip of the
iceberg of digital photography. It is exciting for me to wonder what even the
next 10 years will bring us. Just as Louis Daguerre’s “Daguerreotype” or Fox
Talbot’s “Collotype” process has faded into antiquity, I believe, so too will the
modern process of film photography. We should not mourn the death of these
processes but celebrate their accomplishments. Although, one could argue that
these older processes are time-consuming, environmentally unsound and even at
times just outright dangerous, one cannot help but to feel a bit nostalgic.
Some professional photographers that I have spoken with believe that by having
the ability to take a 1000 pictures with a cell phone and then post them on
Facebook has the effect of illegitimatizing the time honored craft of
photography. While other, more Boalian photographers believe, that by placing
cameras in the hands of all, we have empowered the world. Who’s to say which
camp is right? Personally, I envision myself playing chess with Duchamp,
visualizing a world where an individual can express their artistic passions by
simply stating that their work is art. Einstein once said, “Either everything
is a miracle, or nothing is a miracle.” I believe that the same stands for the age
long question of “what is Art?” I would like to live in a world filled with
people who simply want to express themselves through their chosen medium. I don’t
really see the harm in that, do you?
On behalf of myself, I would like to
thank you for joining me through my exploration of the world of digital photography.
I hope that you enjoyed the ride and maybe even learned a smidgen of useful
information along the way. -Tim
P.S. Feel free to visit my personal website http://timcolephotography.smugmug.com/ to see some of my own digital creations or just live vicariously through my adventures that I have with my lovely wife, Laurie.
P.S. Feel free to visit my personal website http://timcolephotography.smugmug.com/ to see some of my own digital creations or just live vicariously through my adventures that I have with my lovely wife, Laurie.
My friend Tomasz explores digital photography using kites and more recently as 3D panorama at: http://www.szawkalo.com/ - Nate
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