There is often a lot of debate as to whether photography is or is not art. So what happens when you have a photographer, who is also an artist with a background in painting and illustration? We find out in this video where Jeremy Cowart explains how he created a beautiful and ethereal image of musician Imogen Heap:
Jeremy, who is in his first year as a pro photographer was so inspired by Imogen Heap’s music that he fired off an email to her. She agreed to take part in a quick photoshoot in Jeremy’s studio.
Jeremy used a very simple lighting set up consisting of just one soft-box, above and behind the photographer. One of Imogen’s poses struck a cord with the artist/photographer and the seeds of an idea came into his mind. Initially he removes her from the background and adds new layers behind her. This consisted of a landscape and a dramatic sky and clouds
The next stage, highlights the artist in Jeremy. He reshoots the layered image direct from his computer display, through a variety of different textures such as glass and then combines these images with the original layered image. He continuously adds layers, noise and dust until he arrives at an image he is happy with.
The end result is a striking, ethereal image that leans more towards painting than photography yet is derived from several photographic images.
Like This Article?
Don't Miss The Next One!
Join over 100,000 photographers of all experience levels who receive our free photography tips and articles to stay current:
Also an artist and photographer, and believe anyone can be both. Both use “Tools” to create their work, just learn to use the tools each uses. You ask, if Photography is an Art. Art is a method of decoration or communication, with that definition, Photography is also Art as it can be decorative or can communicate and some can be both.
The question in my opinion, “Is ALL photography or even painting and sculpture, etc. ART?”
My answer would be, it depends upon the Artist, and their work. Does it decorate or communicate effectively, either information or emotion? If the answer is yes, then it is ART. If not, no…
If no, it makes no difference if it is photography, painting, sculpture, or any other form which is commonly called art. If it is not decorative or does not communicate something, to someone, even if it only communicates to a small percentage of the population, then it is art.
Quality can vary according to opinions of critics, if SOMEONE likes it as decoration or if it communicates, it is art according to the definitions of ART, regardless of the perceived quality….
Bob Johnston
Very useful and interesting tips! So creative what you can do with things today! I’ll be sure to utilize this in the near future. Thank you for posting and I look forward to more!