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<p>Impact is <em>thee</em> arbiter of triumph. Technical fundamentals and equipment play a part, certainly, and manipulating them to achieve a desired result is creative. But they are, after all, a means to an end. And occasionally fortuitous accidents produce unexpected pleasant surprises. In any event, the viewer responds to what they see, not how it got there. Photographer Yun-Fei Tou who produced MEMENTO MORI said, "I believe something should not be told but should be felt." Emotion! <br>

Elements found to be in normal relationships typically evoke straightforward reactions while those presented in a surreal, abstract, unnatural manner can be intriguing. Either way it’s my gut, not my head that delivers honest decisions. Occasionally I’m not sure how to react to an image. I suspect I should be impressed but instead I’m bemused. Rather than dismiss it out of hand, bewilderment follows as I find myself just not getting it. The more I have to think about whether I’m impressed, the less likely that I am. I freely admit I’m not sophisticated enough to appreciate everything I see, that a piece of art may be trying to communicate something I do not understand. My loss.</p>

<p>Okay, so that was…interesting…but it’s July 1^stand 5 days since the last comment, so perhaps it’s time to ask Phil Jones who started all this what he thinks now. </p>

<p>Phil, what say you, man? Did it help, or are you thinking about dropping out of school and abandoning<br />civilization as we know it…or at least believe to be? </p>

<p>Oh, I see Fred, Mr. Tolstoy and I got spanked for Rebecca’s remarks. That turn of attention prompted me to read her June 7 comment and…well…I agree with her second sentence and enjoyed the “bombastic fakery” bit. Then earlier today Rebecca slapped him around a bit also. But Rebecca, if you truly believe that “Entertainment is the highest thing we can know in this life and all we need to know...” then, truly, I fear for you. I sincerely hope you were just having us on. </p>

<p>But bringing this back to Mr. Jones’ question: Is photojournalism art?, this discussion with all its ramifications has heightened my appreciation for the refreshingly simple, unassailable legitimacy of Mr. Tolstoy’s statement. Fred, I don’t see any A&B. So my answer is Yes! Now, as Forrest Gump said so appropriately, “That’s all I have to say about that.”</p>

 

<p>Very interesting, thank you Freg G. Aside from the fact that my one sentence comment began with the word IF, you MAY have made Mr. Tolstoy’s point by turning my comment into art with your obvious emotion. Likewise, your response may also quality as art because it was certainly entertaining to me. Speculation aside, I have no idea what Mr. Tolstoy may have heard, and I would not presume to judge his mind. PERHAPS he was insane. I follow any artist I please, or not, and I freely admit that I do not understand a great deal of art. Do you? Do you make up your own mind, or do you go along on a ‘name brand’ basis? </p>

<p>If one accepts Leo Tolstoy’s assertion that art is a transfer of emotion it then follows that the viewer, not the creator, decides, assuming they are relatively sane. </p>