Yesterday's Discussion Among Photography Buffs: Documenting vs. Art?

Yesterday’s debate at the photo club ties perfectly into today’s post. We discussed two different approaches to photography. One group focuses on documenting reality, capturing moments and scenes to “immortalize” them in a visually pleasing way. Using technical skills and compositional knowledge, they aim to create images that are memorable. This reminds me of Ansel Adams, who said, “A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

The other group leans toward photography as a fine art form, emphasizing shapes, lines, and emotions. For them, a photograph goes beyond documentation, aiming to evoke feelings and thoughts, often paired with a meaningful title or text. Photographers like Edward Weston, who transformed everyday objects into stunning abstractions, embody this approach.

Of course, these two options represent extremes, and there’s a whole spectrum of photography that lies in between. Photographers like Saul Leiter, Harry Gruyaert, Alex Webb, and others blend documentary and artistic abstraction beautifully. Their work often uses light, color, and shape to create evocative, layered compositions that transcend simple storytelling. And these are just a few; there are many more who push boundaries and redefine what photography can be.

That said, I know I’ll never stop documenting moments and places, which brings me to today’s post. It’s my way of preserving one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks: Casa Batlló, designed by Antoni Gaudí. Its colorful mosaics, flowing curves, and unique details make it a masterpiece of modernist architecture. Whenever I’m in Barcelona—which is about once a quarter—I make a point to pass by and capture it. This isn’t just for my own memories but also to encourage others to visit, as this incredible building is absolutely worth seeing.
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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain