Quote:"It's possible to paint so that the result looks like a photo, but most artists don't try, even if they could achieve it. The argument goes, why bother? If you want a photo, take a photo."

Take a look at the work of some turn of the century painters like Bouguereau, Gerome, or Frederick Church. The work may look "real" like a photo, but that is where the similarity ends. A good painter can alter every element a picture while still retaining the illusion of reality - photographers can't do this. Photography and realistic painting are not necessarily the same thing. I know much of this is a rehash of my earlier post, but so many people belittle realistic art work with the comment "If you want a photo, take a photo."

Is this a photograph?:
Link to Painting by Bouguereau
If you answered yes, then you are seeing the world in a very limited way.