Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What is beautiful?



One thing I've learned is that in art and photography, things that aren't normally considered beautiful sometimes bring a significant amount of beauty to art. So what is beauty? What does it mean to be beautiful?

We've all heard the expression, "Beauty is in the Eye of the beholder" - but it is also in the hand of the portrayer. An artist can portray anything as beautiful. Think about it. Think of some of your favorite songs, and some of them are going to be sad, emotional, painful and even angry. But these things aren't beautiful to us normally, only when we see them through the perspective of art. So what is beauty?

Is it the man who goes to work in a big orange suit in 100 degree weather?




What about the simple man who peddles homemade ice cream street side in hopes of getting a few extra bucks?






What about the elderly woman who walks up and down the street begging for money in the blazing heat?


Is it where we practice our faith?


Is it a pair of shoes found on the street? Ok, probably not a pair of shoes.




Is it the texture of a pattern, or the irregularities in repetition?



Is it a worn down, yet new construction project?



Or maybe its the rustic aging that we see everyday and dismiss as worthless...


Or is it childhood friendships...


and simple schoolyard games?