The Essence of Photography
Photographs are not the dedicated replica of primitive look of things. It is reinterpreting them with new combination, alignment and colors. Otherwise, they are falling into the misunderstanding of realism.
Speaking of realism, it is almost the byword of ignoring aesthetics. Many skip personal creation, turning photographs into no longer one kind of art, but the bland sketch of fact, stopping the viewers from gaining interest in it.
Let us take photography as the painting of modern days. The viewers often stand in front of those paintings with dreamy light, or contrasting arrangement of elements, while they merely stop by the drawings of pure depiction of reality.
Even for paintings of actual events, the painters’ own interpretation is still seen in every aspect: lighting, view angles, movement, focus point… They never compromise the authenticity but instead enhance the beauty and elegance, then these works are remembered from time to time.
Photography: What to think about
Photography is indeed about these factors: Functions of photos (documentary, color experiment, advertising…); What things or who are in these pictures; Layout of objects; Viewing angles; Main focus(es); Interactions of things in the picture;
The technical skills of photography serve for these, and not the opposite way. However, there are no good photographs when either side is not going well. One must understand both.