What Makes a Photograph Art? Ann Thomas, National Gallery of Canada

What separates a snap shot from a fine art photograph which is worthy of hanging in a National Gallery?

My guest on this episode of Photo Kibitz is Ann Thomas, Curator of Photography for the National Gallery of Canada.

Ann and I chat about the National Gallery’s extensive world class collection of photographs, which starts practically from the beginning of photography and continues to grow with works from today.

I also asked Ann how she looks at a photograph, what does she see in them.

Of course, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask how can I get my photographs into the National Gallery collection.

Personally, I’ve always enjoy going to galleries. I’m not sure where that drive came from. It could have started with a field trip I took with my elementary school class to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, I don’t know. In college I registered for a humanities class because it included a field trip to the National Gallery in Ottawa (I credit that trip with sparking my interest in moving to Ottawa after college).

While I do seek out photographic exhibits whenever I visit a gallery, I also make a point of going through the other exhibits too, because appreciating fine art paintings has made me a better photographer. For that reason, I am also a proud Friend of the Gallery.

The only concern or criticism I have with the National Gallery of Canada is, with all of those images in their collection, it’s too bad we can’t see more of them. The online gallery helps, but there is nothing better than being able to spend time looking at an original print.

For more information on the National Gallery of Canada, please go to their website: gallery.ca

2013 © Copyright Michael Vuckovic
2013 © Copyright Michael Vuckovic