Chandigarh, August 24: On a quiet morning, when the sun first stretches its golden fingers across the horizon, a photographer lifts their camera. To some, it might look like a mechanical act—pressing a button, freezing a moment. But to those who understand, photography is not just about capturing what is in front of the lens. It is about seeing the world differently, turning ordinary sights into timeless stories. That is the essence of art.
Photography, like painting or poetry, is born from perspective. Two people can stand in the same place, at the same time, and look at the same subject—yet their photographs will not be the same. One may focus on the colors dancing in the sky, while another may notice the way a shadow curves along a building. The camera becomes a brush, and the world is the canvas. What emerges is not just an image, but an expression of the photographer’s vision, emotions, and choices.
Think of a portrait. A simple face, yes—but how is it framed? Is the light soft and warm, whispering of gentleness? Or is it harsh and dramatic, telling a story of struggle and resilience? These decisions are artistic ones, no different from how a painter chooses their strokes or how a writer shapes their words. Photography transforms reality into interpretation.
Many argue that because photography is tied to machines, it cannot be art. After all, isn’t the camera doing the work? But this is like saying a violin plays itself, or that a pen writes poetry on its own. A tool only becomes powerful in the hands of someone who knows how to wield it. A camera does not decide what deserves attention. It does not wait for the exact second a bird takes flight or a child bursts into laughter. The human behind the lens does. The art lies in anticipation, in patience, and in the sensitivity to capture fleeting moments before they vanish.
History, too, tells us that photography has always been more than documentation. From Ansel Adams’ breathtaking landscapes that painted nature with light and shadow, to Dorothea Lange’s haunting Depression-era portraits that gave dignity to the forgotten, photography has moved people, stirred empathy, and inspired change. Like all art, it speaks a language beyond words.
What makes photography even more powerful is its accessibility. Not everyone can sculpt marble or mix oil paints, but with a camera—or even a phone—anyone can try to tell a story. And yet, not every picture is art. The difference lies in intention, in vision. A snapshot shows what something looked like; a photograph shows how it felt.
In the end, photography is art because it goes beyond the act of seeing. It asks us to look again, to notice the beauty in a raindrop sliding down glass, in the wrinkles on a grandmother’s hands, in the chaos of a city street. It is an art that teaches us not only to frame the world but also to feel it more deeply.
Through the lens, we do not just capture life—we create it.
