Some of my classmates and I have been discussing photography as an art form. Photography is one of those wonderful things that everyone can do. You do not have to be an expert on it; you just need the proper equipment and with the touch of a button, you have a photo. Since photography is an art form that everyone can do, some find themselves wondering whether or not photography can be considered art?

Well, can it?

I think it can. Yes, I know everyone can do it and you do not need to have the skills of Frida Kahlo in order to take a good photograph. The reason I think that this "easy" art form can even be considered art is because the art of actually taking a good photo involves so many other things besides just the mechanical process of the photography.

A photographer has to consider many different elements in order to get a good photo. They must consider lighting, contrast, shape, color, size, even the placement of certain objects, and much more. Not only do they have to consider the things in the photo, but they also have to consider the environment. Is it rainy, sunny, or cloudy? Is the weather going to affect my photo? The photographer must also decide whether or not they want to use a digital or film camera.

After taking the actual photograph, the photographer still has many other things left to consider. If they have used a film camera, then the way they develop the film, how much light they give the negative, what chemicals they use to develop the film are all elements that can ultimately determine the way the photo turns out. If they have used a digital camera, then how much photo editing do they want to do to the photo? Do they want to remove certain elements or even add things in? Do they want to change the color scheme or maybe just enhance the currents colors? Do they want to crop the photo in order to put a different perspective on the images in the photo? The photographers must ask themselves these questions, plus several more, for every photo that they take.

I realize that some of the best photos were not taken with this much thought. Someone just happened to be in the right place at the right time and stumbled upon an amazing photographic moment. However, even though that does happen, what the person who took the photograph chooses to do with the photo also determines its ending.

Knowing how much thought goes into good photography has to bring a person to no other conclusion than photography is art; beauty caught in a split second.