People who are not artists don't seem, for the most part, in my experience, to understand or appreciate all that goes into creating art. Don't get me wrong, there are many collectors and connoisseurs of art, who do have a level of appreciation, even though they themselves are not artists. And surely there are those, though not collectors or connoisseurs, who also have a level of appreciation.

There are opposing "camps" in the 'critical' world who argue that with regard to photography, art is created at the moment of exposure. And there are those who say creating art is a process of imagining, exposing, and manipulating to create the desired finished result.

I happen to be of the second 'camp'. We often will bring Ansel Adams to the debate, as rarely will anyone challenge the artistry of the great Ansel. But the fact is that Ansel was very insistent on specific manipulations all along the process of creating his art. Manipulations included "pulled" and "pushed" processing, dodging and burning, and the use of specific chemicals for processing, and papers for printing.

In today's world of art photography, processing, dodging and burning and retouch are all done in computer darkrooms. Image layering and compositing as well as multiexposure techniques have been used throughout film history, and the same, and even better techniques are executed in Photoshop and other software programs today.

In the final analysis, artists use whatever tools are available to them to create art within any time frame in history. And the creation of art is a process. In my experience, beginning with imagination.

As a photo-portrait artist, it is my goal, and my challenge to create portraits that embrace, enhance, and show the physical beauty of my subjects, while at the same time portraying their personalities, (and in the case of groups), connections to each other.

It is my belief that for every 'calling' in life, there are people who are particularly suited to that profession, career, trade, etc. I know that I could never be an accountant, though I absolutely depend on my excellent, reliable accountant for the services he provides. I just don't have the personality to match with professions that require very specific guidelines for every aspect of the job. I need room for creative expression and flexible boundaries.

Though I enjoyed my tenure and experience as a cabinetmaker, which has a very artistic aspect to it, I couldn't be happy doing that as a career either.

They say everybody has a "twin" out there somewhere, but I can tell you, every, single person is unique! I love people. I've been studying them for 50 years or so now. The fascination doesn't end. People are beautiful, intelligent, individual, unique.

I have been creating images, portraits of people since I was 6 years old. At first with pencils and watercolors. Then with charcoal, pen & ink, and watercolors. I tried acrylic and oils, but didn't have the patience for them. Loved watercolors!

Then when I was eleven years old, I got a Yashica 2.25 x 2.25 square, twin lens camera as a gift. Holy Crap! I learned photography, which was mostly B&W, and fell in love with the medium!

For 40 years I've been creating photo-portraits and other art images using Light & Shadow as my primary medium…Photography. You capture it on film, and manipulate it through exposure, then processing and printing techniques, or you capture on digital sensor, then process via computer, then send it to print. Same thing, different tools.

To create fine art portraits requires Imagination, Time, Artistic Ability, the most advanced Tools available, Patience, and Dedication. As for me, I am dedicated to creating the most beautiful and lasting portraits money can buy.

About the author: Stan P. Cox II runs a Portrait and Commercial photography studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been a professional Hawaii photographer for 31 years. His web address is: http://www.ParamountPhotography.com. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.