Conclude your work on photography and time by reflecting on the role of
photography in the work you’ve just looked at – and similar projects.
Is the photography simply providing an authentic record of the artwork – photography as
evidence – or is it part of the artwork itself? You might argue that the photograph is the artwork for a viewer who has never actually seen Richard Long’s wayside sculptures, for example.
In the art world, every single artist has different handwriting and
a different way to express themselves. Based on their own experiences, their
interpretations or their feelings art creators communicate their inner self
through works of their own intelligence and point of view. As we have seen in
the brief, some special individuals have shaped special environments to be transformed
to very engaging scenery using simple features that eventually have become a strong
message which can clearly speak of what their thoughts are, what they are
trying to show through their own stories what their original intentions behind
their work was.
Someone would of course argue that art interpretation is a personal matter.
There comes the role of photography as an art form to complete the story of the creator: it clearly gives a point of view, a perspective of the artist’s side using the lenses of a camera to highlight the elements of the artwork the artist wants to focus on. The camera distinctly can
hide or reveal certain features; can guide and mesmerize the viewer to the
world the artist wants to be part of. So clearly, the photo becomes a medium of
communication, a vehicle for the originator to show to the public certain parts
or even a piece of work as a whole; and as with every reproductive artwork, the
quality of the photo can define it either as a unique piece of art that can
stand on its own or as a brochure promoting the piece of work it represents.
To conclude, photography as a medium needs to work in full communication with the piece of work captured. Good photography can just be the best herald to represent the item shot in a picture. Nevertheless, great photography can stand on its own and can be a piece of art.
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