My wife and I sometimes disagree about my "artisitc vision". I see an interesting scene and snap off some shots. She looks at the pictures and says "Why did you take a picture of THAT?"
I know we all have different views, but I am curious....is this art or just trash?
My wife (bless her heart) might say "I don't like the subject matter, but it is a good photograph."
Eager, art is very much in the eye of the beholder. I am a working member of a cooperative gallery, and on my shift I get to observe people browsing the exhibits (including my own.) It is amazing to see so many people walk right by, as if they didn't exist, pieces that I (and many others) think of as the best in the shop, whereas others are stopped cold and stare for minutes. The fact is, that if it is art TO YOU, then it is art, period. What others think is not your business -- unless you are trying to sell them something. But that is a whole other story...
If it seems like fun, you can call this photo "trash art", and let others resolve the ambiguity! For what it may be worth, I kinda like it, although I think I detect a (very slight) cant of the yellow line to the left that distracts me (very slightly.) I might be tempted to have the photo oriented such that the wall in the center was vertical, which would help to explain the leaning can. But remember - the vision is YOURS - not mine or (ahem) your wife's
I agree with Cal's comments - well said, Cal.
I had one thought of my own:
Since this strikes me as a kind of visual humor, the one leaning can being out of place, I would be tempted to use Photoshop to intensify the idea. What if you made the four upright cans one color, and the leaner different?
Art is where you find it (even if created apparently out of nothing beyond the contents of your mind), but if you don't look for it everywhere you can, you certainly won't be likely to stumble on it.
Eager, I had exactly the same problem with my wife. Then she stopped commenting altogether… And FWIW, I think it's a very nice pic. I am only bothered by the fact the there are two things which disturb the repetition. I think it would be better if it was only one.
Well done, Eager! i really like this one. It has a lot of humor and visual interest.
That said, I absolutely DO NOT agree with Cal that art is anything you say it is. If that's true than everything is art and consequently nothing is art. The trick though, (and you've done it extremely well with this shot) is to turn what is definitely not art and generally couldn't even be considered as art into a clear aesthetic statement. Coupled with the title, you've created a cute story in a single frame. That makes it into art.
Getting philosophical, are we? Well, if I can add my voice to the never-ending debate, I think that art is exactly that: Whatever you say it is. Case in point, The Fountain by Marcel Duchamp. Every known art critique can explain why it is art. I don't care. In my eyes it is not, and never will be.
i really like this one. It has a lot of humor and visual interest. 