Obligatory Photograph

A little about me: I was raised a military brat and lived all around the US growing up. I went to Auburn University then joined the Air Force upon graduation. In the Air Force I flew B-1B bombers, T-37 and T-38 trainers and KC-135s. I retired from the Air National Guard after 21 years of service. I was also an airline pilot for Midwest Airlines where I flew DC-9s, MD-80s and Boing 717s. All of Midwest's flight-crews were outsourced in 2008 and now I make my living selling art and various other jobs in the greater DC area. A little about art: Like many photographers I received my first camera as a gift at some ridiculously young age. Like many I am passionate about it to the point of obsession. I have been shooting film for 20 plus years and recently made the shift to the digital age. But you have probably read similar things 100 times on various online bios. Art is a very subjective thing. You either like something or you do not; simple as that. Photographic art seems even a bit more subjective to me. With the explosion of the digital age it seems just about anyone that buys a DSLR at Walmart calls themselves a "Fine Art Photographer." Perhaps they all are and I am not one to judge. But with that there seems to be a pervasive view that anyone with a digital camera can produce the images you find on fine art sites like this one. Another view is that all it takes is a "really nice camera" to produce those "really nice images." Perhaps....... No one ever questions if a painting is art. There are certainly different levels of talent within the painting population but very rarely is it questioned as to whether it is art or not. Lets be honest; not everyone can paint well. This is every bit as true when it comes to photographic art as well. Someone either has artistic vision or they do not. If you have it, it can certainly be nurtured and enhanced but I am of the opinion that it cannot simply be taught. The technical aspects of photography can certainly be taught and are a must to offer the highest level of image available. The equipment photographers choose to use do nothing more than expand the limitations of our art. I have seen truly artistic images shot with an Iphone and I have seen junk produced with a $45,000 Leica. What makes something art is how we use the tools at our disposal no matter how much or little we have spent on that equipment.