Are you an hobbyist or artist?

[Marc Leest]

A hobbyist looks for sharpness
A pro looks for assignments
An artist looks for light

-m-

[Vaughn]

A hobbyist looks for sharpness

...or bokeh (or however it is spelled)

It was when I realized that I was looking for light that I started to realize that photography was a passion and that art was what I was immersed in.

[dng88]

Hobbyist but more want to learn to appreciate ...

[alexmacphee]

The implication that I don't like about 'hobbyist' is that you aren't serious about your work, the quality of it, artistic elements, etc.

The way I see the distinction is in terms of audience : the hobbyist having only himself as his audience, doing what pleases him, and the artist having other people as his audience, to please or intrigue them.

[perkeleellinen]

This could become a really interesting discussion; I like hearing about what motivates and drives others.

When people ask me what I do this for, I normally explain that I can't draw and photography started as a way to get out some artistic urges that couldn't be expressed via other routes. Now that sounds like I should be an 'artist' but I've never sold a print and have absolutely no interest in going down any commercial or artistic routes where I sell my work (my audience extends no further than family, friends and people on my postcard list). So maybe I'm a hobbyist, but I have no interest in gear in itself. Maybe, then, I can say I'm a hobbyist that makes 'art', hope that doesn't sound vain.

[benjiboy]

I'm a hobbyist, I have been for more than fifty years, I don't believe photography is an art but a craft, and I abhor the "self styled" photographic artists.

[Dan Henderson]

I'm a hobbyist, I have been for more than fifty years, I don't believe photography is an art but a craft, and I abhor the "self styled" photographic artists.

Perhaps photography is nothing more than the exercise of craftmanship for you, but I use the craft that I have developed in an attempt to express myself through art. I like what Bayles and Orland wrote in Art and Fear that "art is the visible edge of craft."

[RPippin]

My answer when asked is, I don't have hobbies, I have obsessions. Photography for me is an obsession, the whole ensalada. Cameras, film, darkroom, everything about it. Artist? The hell if I know. I'll leave that to someone else to figure out. Serious best describes it for me. Yeah, obsessed and serious or hobby or artist. I'd go for the obsessed and serious.

[benjiboy]

Perhaps photography is nothing more than the exercise of craftmanship for you, but I use the craft that I have developed in an attempt to express myself through art. I like what Bayles and Orland wrote in Art and Fear that "art is the visible edge of craft."

My point is Dan that it's not you the individual to call yourself an "Artist " but what the rest of the World considers you.

[bsdunek]

IMHO - photography is the medium, craftsmanship is when you do it well. Art is when you are expressive. For years I strived to be a good craftsman - everything sharp, clean, good contrast, fine grain, all the 'good stuff'. Now I find that developing that craftsmanship allows me to better express myself. When I want to create a photo I can control all those mechanical things to achieve my vision. That's when it crosses over from craftsmanship to art.
As I say, just IMHO.