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I’ve been reading work in progress posts over at wetcanvas.com and at deviantart.com and studying them. Not so much for the techniques of painting, though I usually manage to learn something, more along the lines of how to teach someone else. With a work in progress type set up.

The first road block I ran into was that if I wanted to do a watercolor WIP type post, I would have to figure out how to get a good scan wile the art is wet. I don’t want to chance getting paint stains on my scanner bed, especially Alizarian Crimson. (That color will stain things very easily.)

The next thing I thought of was my camera. I haven’t yet decided if using a tripod will be required as the artwork will be laying flat on a table. My dad has one that I don’t know how to use, I’m going to see if I can get him to show me. If not I’ll probably just build my own out of wire.

My next problem is, how do I do this without leaving any holes? I’ve noticed that a lot of the works in progress tutorials, say about 50%, leave out steps that I think should be explained. I’m not quite sure how to handle that.. I’ll probably end up drafting several different ones before I figure out how to do it.

And over to you…

Do you have any suggestions as to what I should paint for a tutorial?

Something that I should focus on?

What has been left out of tutorials that you felt you needed to be there?

This debate has been flying around over at DeviantArt quite a bit. It’s not quite as loud, or in your face as some of the others flying around. I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of days off and on. My opinion is: Photography is a form of art.

It’s not just point and shoot

One of the more common arguments that is used against photography is that “all you have to do is point the camera at the thing, and click a button”. There’s a lot that goes into a photograph before you even turn the camera on, much less ‘click the button’.

• Setting the settings on the camera
• Knowing what lenses, or filters, to use (or none at all).
• Checking the lighting
• If you use film, making sure you have the right speed and type
• Making sure the memory card, or film, is in the camera (I’ve lost wonderful shots this way).
• Making sure you have plenty fresh batteries.

Most experienced photographers have it down to a rhythm, and can do all of this is just a few minutes. Making it seem a lot easier than it actually is.

Same rules of composition

The same balance is needed in a painting to achieve a balanced composition that is needed in photography.  The Rule of Thirds applies to both painting and photography.  Perspective, color, light, and shadow play almost, if not the exact same, roles in both.

Background Clutter

Making sure the background is not so cluttered that the subject is lost, can also one of the harder things to do for both. When photographing nature you have to watch your focus and make sure that the main thing your photographing is standing out. In painting, or drawing, blank spaces are like a siren’s call, It’s very hard not to put something were when we know it’s better to leave it blank.

It takes practice

Just like in painting, or drawing, you have to practice a lot to be a good photographer, much less an excellent one. There’s lots of dud shots that pave the way too the good ones, and then even more between there and excellent ones. Just as an artist does a lot of work before becoming skilled enough to be considered a good artist.

And over to you…

Do you consider Photography a form of artwork? Why, or why not?