Think Of Yourself As An Artist
by 
Even though photography has been around for about 150 years, only within the past decade has it been accepted as a true art form with collections found in major museums throughout the world.
Its acceptance is revealed not only by the public's appreciation of a photograph but also by the economic impact of photography in the marketplace. Photographs that sell today for many thousands of dollars commanded only $100-$200 just over a decade ago. People today appreciate fine photography and are willing to pay for it.
Obviously, not all photographs are considered great works of art and are worth little except to the person who shot them. The important thing is to develop a state of mind that presumes your photography can be important, that taking photographs can be an art, and that as a person deeply interested in photography, you are an artist. You paint with light and your subject is life itself. What a wonderful opportunity to create!
How can you begin to think of yourself as an artist? First, liken yourself to a sculptor. A sculptor begins with a block of marble - his whole. By chipping away with a chisel, he produces his finished work. Thus, by process of elimination and "zeroing-in," a sculptor derives his completed art.
A photographer, too, derives his completed work by process of elimination and by "zeroing-in" on his subject. An initial look at the subject is the photographer's "whole." Then, by proper lens selection, camera angle, light direction, time of day, selective focusing, etc., the photographer "chips away" like the sculptor and ends up with his finished art.
Even film choice and paper selection are important for the photographer to express himself artistically. Remember, also, that it isn't the chisel carving the stone - it's the sculptor. Similarly, keep in mind that it's not the camera making the photograph - it's really you!
Learning to visualize in advance is very important in your photography and will help you think in terms of being an artist. When you are composing a scene in the viewfinder, try to visualize the image of a finished print. This is especially true when working with black and white where an interpretation of tones and contrasts is necessary.
Even when you don't have your camera with you, train yourself to look at things as if you were seeing them through a viewfinder. You'll be amazed at what you will see.
Yet another way to bring out the artist in you is to try to say in your photography how you feel about your subjects, remembering that you and your subject are the two most important ingredients in making a photograph.
If you love trees, for example, communicate this love through your photographs. Try to make a meaningful statement about trees in your pictures.
The idea of a photograph, as in any art medium, is to create a visual interpretation of what you see and feel and then to share your vision with others.