If one were asked: "what is photography" or "what is two dimensional art" there would be many different answers. Yet both photography and two dimensional art have a similar challenge: it's all about the picture space.

What is the picture space? In photography it may be a sheet of paper, a screen, or maybe a wall, and the picture space may vary from postage stamp size through 4"x6" to 16"x20" and much larger. Two dimensional art also varies in size from tiny images to enormous paintings that took years to complete. Regardless of image size, all photographers and all painters have the same objective: determine what they want to put in the picture space and where they want to place it. 

Over the years technological advances in two dimensional art have not been as rapid or as extensive as in photography. Think how much photography has changed over the last 150 years. Think about the last 15 years. Yet the goal is still the same: use the picture space well.

Photography is changing so rapidly we are stretched (intellectually and financially) to keep up with the latest sophisticated cameras and advanced software programs. Fortunately, photographers (and painters) are not measured by advanced equipment and technology - - the great equalizer is how well they use the picture space.

Joseph Miller

furnfoto@aol.com