I'm an Artist and Not a Photographer

Cindy Sherman, Untitled #96, 1981

"You're very different than the other photographers I work with" an Art Consultant from Philadelphia said to me yesterday. I explained that one difference is that I don't consider myself a photographer. I see myself as an artist that happens to use a camera.

What's the difference between Professional Artists and Photographers?
Artists go to Art School
Photographers attend Journalism or Photography School

Artists have studied Art History, Drawing and Painting
Photographers have studied Journalism, Writing, and Studio techniques.

Artists learn how to create an engaging image on a blank canvas
Photographers learn how to tell stories with their pictures

Artists follow their intuition to create bodies of work
Photographers take assignments to go out on shoots

Artists want the final image to be visually successful whatever it takes
Photographers want their work to be an accurate document

Artists create big images that can hang on walls
Photographers create small images that work for layouts in print

Artists tend to be obsessed with content
Photographers tend to be obsessed with craft

Comments

[Don Kurz]

I am disappointed in your black and white portrayal of the "differences" between the two. I believe it is more of a gray zone but that is not how you portrayed it. It does smack of elitism and arrogance due to the brevity of your definitions and that is why I am most disappointed in your blog.

[hdomke]

I'm surprised that no one else has called me on that one!

I intentionally took a black & white stance to make a point and to be provocative.
Of course the truth is , as you say "more of a gray zone".
There are many kinds of photographers and many kinds of artists.
Sometimes photographers can be artists.
I was simply trying to tease out what some of the differences might be.

My blog posts are intentionally very brief, and that contributes to overlooking the gray zone at times.

"It does smack of elitism and arrogance"
I agree.
The art world, if you get close enough reeks with elitism and arrogance.