Is photography "art" ?

The question that has plagued photographers since photography began. I was taught photography formally in an Art Department. But I was very aware the "them & us" attitude between traditional artists and photographers with fellow students. On the face of it photography is easier because hey "anyone can do it" Then again anyone can paint - it really is open to personal tastes as to what makes "good art" Art is a creative process, and therefore can include all forms of artistic endeaver surely? The fact is however that by tradition photographs are easy to reproduce, and like anything that is not an exclusive one off is perceived as of less value.

The arguments further goe's that you cannot measure a painting that takes months of preperation and work to an image shot at 1/125th of a second @ f8.

As we move on I will aim to answer with my own views how traditional art and photography measure up. Remember it was artists who grabbed the new meduim of photography in those early days - and from their number came the humble photographer.