Quote -
First of all, I determine the concept. I like to make pictures that appear to be part of an ongoing story, as if they were stills from a film, for example. Not all my pictures follow that pattern, but most do. So to start with I want to know what my picture is about.

Just reviving an old thread ... :-)

All that I wrote in the original posting still applies, but other factors have been introduced into my thinking since then.

Perhaps not so much 'introduced' as 'developed', as I'm sure they were there from the beginning, albeit in more vague form.

Specifically, while determining the overall concept I am now also likely to spend some time thinking about what affect I want the picture to have on the viewer.

Everybody has their own definition of what art is and, of course, everybody is right! Art is a subjective thing and each one of us can decide for ourselves exactly what art is.

For me, art is creating something of aesthetic value, the primary purpose of which is to be either thought-provoking or to elicit an emotion in the viewer.

That's why a pie chart, or a bar chart of my bank balance is, for me, not art - their primary purpose is to provide information even though they may also elicit an emotion too (especially in the latter example).

So, if I want to make art (and I do), then I need to establish in my own mind the intended effect upon the viewer, or perhaps a range of possible effects if the image is to be designed with a certain degree of intentional ambiguity.

Sounds a bit pretentious?

Yeah, maybe.

But you know what? - I'm happy to be a little pretentious these days :-D
Besides, taking more things into account during the creative process adds to the interest and fun, for me at least.

It's my hobby and I'll do what I like with it!

Over to you ...

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