No, it is not a stupid question. Damn'd if I know. Maybe some of the folks in Art History type classes could formulate a good answer. I suspect it has little to do with technical skill, or even with doing something that has never been done before. I suspect it also has little to do with making a good living out of it, or being recognized as a visionary. I suspect it has quite a lot to do with being at the right place at the right time, and capturing the imagination of the culture. I'd guess it cannot be a "part time" thing, but require real dedication and passion. A very big part of it seems to be using the cutting edge technologies. If digital photography is not considered by the mainstream as "real" art, those working in the digital media may someday be considered visionaries. For the working professional, rather than the "artist," the formula is much simpler: can the customer get a predictable result, on time, and within budget.