Does Photography 'Matter'?

To ask if photography 'matters' is a strange question to begin with and begs the further question, does art 'matter'? Since before recorded history humans have used art to express emotion and communicate something about the world as they understand it. From the very earliest of cave paintings through to today’s modern art, we've used our imaginations and observations to say something about who we are and what we understand about ourselves and the worlds we inhabit.

Prior to the invention of the camera and the development of photography as a way of recording history, art was used as both a means of expression and a way of chronicling events and the lives of peoples. Alongside written records, artists were often used to provide pictorial representations of who were and what had happened to us. This trend in art hit its peak in the renaissance and continued right through to the invention of the camera with art being produced that was almost indistinguishable from real life. 

With the advent of the camera and the development of photographic technology, our means of visually recording the events in our lives grew more accurate and ever more sophisticated. Whilst the artist may have some license to portray their view of events, the camera supposedly showed us the bare truth of the matter, it records one for one what it sees. From here it could be said that traditional art returned more to the world of emotion and the conveyance of an artists message. We saw the rise of impressionism, modernism and post modernism where photo realistic art took more of a back seat in favour of abstract pieces, whilst the camera became the default means of documenting our lives and histories.

Whilst photography became widespread almost from it's invention, it wasn't until the latter half of the 20th Century that it became common place as an art form. With advances in technology bringing the cost of photography down, the artist began to have access to it as a medium and began exploring the possibilities it held beyond the recording of events. Since then we've seen artists take to photography as a means of creative expression and currently it stands as one of the most widely patronised of the arts. With digital technologies making complex and previously costly shoots available to almost anyone with the inclination, the art form has never been more popular.

So does photography 'matter'? As a means of telling stories and recording events, of course it does. Does photography 'matter' as an art form? Personally I believe it matters as much as any art has ever mattered. When an artist looks to convey a message or an emotion it doesn't matter whether they use a pen, a sculptors hammer, a paint brush or a camera, what matters is the art, the concept and the integrity of the artist’s intention.

Article for Spectrum Photographic - professional photographic & giclée printing