Photography Essay

Art isn’t always about what’s seen, but what remains unseen, as is so poignantly described within this article. From the depictions of landscapes that seem to denote the presence of human beings and their many aspects to the actual representations of people, sans eyes or otherwise, artwork of any age tends to draw upon both the imagination and the inner workings of the artist. Throughout the history of art there have been regulated guidelines, socially accepted mores, and generally understood rules that have applied to most works, defining them in a manner in which society can understand and find reasonably attractive. Photography has not shattered, but instead altered those rules since its inception, bringing about a revolution within the world of art through its untold variances upon very old, recognized themes.
Where perfection was once the most sought after commodity within the realm of the arts, now imperfection and the application of paint, the showing of wires that hold the entire subject or metaphorical landscape together are what people find interesting. It is not yet a wide, fully accepted view, as perfection is still and will most likely be a struggle to attain for many, but through photography such an ideal has gained a new and enticing definition through which differing visions can be realized. What is seen is not all that remains within the perception any longer, but it is what remains unseen, be it a feeling, an emotion, or the simplicity of what can be read within the eyes of the subject, is what draws the viewer in. This makes them wonder, what does this say about me? What the unseen eye sees is sometimes far greater than what is shown.